The story in one page
In the province of Sulaco, the San Tome silver mine dictates the fate of the Republic of Costaguana. As revolution ignites, the incorruptible Capataz de Cargadores, Nostromo, is tasked with smuggling the mine's silver output to safety by sea. Instead of delivering it, he hides the massive shipment on an island and allows the world to believe it was lost at sea. His decision initiates a slow unraveling of his life, as he guards his secret while power brokers struggle for control of the country, leading to a quiet, final tragedy at the lighthouse.
Who's who
- Nostromo
An elite, charismatic foreman turned secret thief of the silver.
- Charles Gould
The English mine administrator obsessed with material success and stability.
- Martin Decoud
A cynical journalist who accompanies the silver to its hiding place.
- Linda Viola
A lighthouse keeper’s daughter who guards the site of the silver.
What it's really about
- Materialism
- Wealth as a corrupting, isolating force.
- Political Instability
- Revolutions shifting power for economic gain.
Why it's memorable
- A lighter full of silver disappearing into the absolute blackness of a gulf.
- A dying old man reaching for his Bible as his secret remains buried below.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Nostromo dies while his hidden silver remains unclaimed under the beam of the lighthouse. Linda Viola calls out his name across the water, cementing his legend in the gulf.
For your book club
- Does the silver own the men or do the men own the silver?
- Why does a legend of incorruptibility inevitably become a cautionary tale of greed?