The story in one page
Frustrated by short rations and a tyrannical captain, Tommo and his friend Toby jump ship at Nukuheva. Their plan to hide in the mountains goes sideways when they stumble into the valley of the Typees, a tribe with a fearsome reputation for eating their enemies. Instead of being butchered, Tommo is treated as a high-status curiosity, provided with a personal valet named Kory-Kory and the companionship of the beautiful Fayaway. While he enjoys a life of perpetual leisure and bread-fruit feasts, the constant 'taboo' restrictions and the discovery of human remains suggest his hosts are merely fattening him up. When Toby vanishes, Tommo’s paradise transforms into a golden cage he must break out of by force.
Who's who
- Tommo
The narrator who deserts his ship and becomes a captive guest.
- Toby
Tommo's cynical companion who escapes the valley early to seek help.
- Fayaway
A local maiden and Tommo's close companion in the valley.
- Mehevi
The noble chief of the Typees who oversees Tommo's stay.
- Kory-Kory
Tommo's devoted servant who carries him around due to his injury.
What it's really about
- Civilization vs. Nature
- Contrasts Western naval discipline with the supposed ease of island life.
- Cultural Ambiguity
- Explores the thin line between hospitable ritual and lethal intent.
Why it's memorable
- The elaborate process of preparing 'kokoo' using a wooden hobby-horse to grate cocoanuts.
- Tommo and Toby shivering in a rain-drenched rock crevice during their mountain escape.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Tommo escapes by fighting off a pursuing native in the surf to reach an Australian boat; years later, he reunites with Toby, who had been tricked into leaving by a deceptive captain.
For your book club
- Does the narrator's fear of cannibalism stem from evidence or his own cultural prejudices?
- How does the concept of 'taboo' serve as a social and political tool for the Typees?