4. Tomorrow - Short Stories - Class 12 - Kaleidoscope

Jul 10
4 min read

Author: Joseph Conrad

Textbook: Kaleidoscope

Genre: Fiction / Short Story

Summary

“Tomorrow” by Joseph Conrad tells the story of Captain Hagberd, an old retired sailor who settles in the town of Colebrook in the belief that his long-lost son Harry will return home “tomorrow.” The townspeople view him as eccentric, but he clings to hope, building a life centered around his son's awaited return. Bessie Carvil, daughter of Hagberd’s tenant, listens to his ramblings with compassion. She herself is trapped in a life of servitude to her abusive, blind father. Captain Hagberd’s fantasy of a reunion and a comfortable home for Harry—and even marriage with Bessie—remains unshaken. When Harry finally returns, he is a rugged, disillusioned man with no desire to stay. He sees through his father's madness and is not moved by sentiment. Bessie, who had begun to believe in Hagberd’s vision, is devastated by the encounter. The story ends with Hagberd still immersed in his illusion, awaiting a tomorrow that may never come. The narrative explores themes of delusion, lost time, and the loneliness of unfulfilled hope.

Character Sketch:

Captain Hagberd

Captain Hagberd is a retired coasting-skipper whose life is shaped by a single obsession: the return of his lost son, Harry. Despite knowing nothing of his son's whereabouts for over sixteen years, Hagberd convinces himself that Harry will return “tomorrow.” He moves to Colebrook, where he believes Harry had once been spotted, and even prepares a home for him. A frugal and reclusive man, Hagberd’s eccentric behavior and appearance—marked by his canvas clothes and long white beard—make him a subject of ridicule. His delusion gives him purpose, and disturbing that belief unsettles him deeply. His madness is deeply rooted in his self-esteem and longing for familial fulfillment. Hagberd is pitiable yet touching in his unwavering hope.

Themes

Theme	Description
Illusion vs Reality	Hagberd lives in an imagined world where his son will return tomorrow.
Loneliness	Both Hagberd and Bessie are isolated—one by madness, the other by duty.
Time and Waiting	The story examines how time is suspended by emotional fixations.
Family Expectations	Hagberd's desire to control his son's future reflects generational conflict.
Female Entrapment	Bessie represents women trapped by social duty and oppressive homes.

✨ Literary Devices

Device	Example	Effect
Allusion	“...beard of Father Neptune… a deposed sea-god…”	Compares Hagberd to Neptune, emphasizing his maritime past and decline.
Irony	Harry returns but rejects everything his father prepared for him.	Highlights the futility of Hagberd’s hope.
Symbolism	“Tomorrow”	Represents unfulfilled dreams and denial of reality.
Imagery	“red handsome face, a blue wandering eye, and a great white beard…”	Vividly describes Hagberd’s eccentric appearance.
Metaphor	“The voice of the restless sea itself…”	Reflects emotional turbulence and internal storms.

Title Justification

The title “Tomorrow” is symbolic of Captain Hagberd’s delusion and his lifelong hope that his son will return the next day. For Hagberd, "tomorrow" never arrives—it is an eternal promise that gives meaning to his isolated existence. It also represents the futility of expectations built on denial and fantasy. The irony is complete when Harry returns and shatters every part of this long-cherished “tomorrow,” revealing how hollow and tragic the hope had become. The title thus encapsulates the core conflict between expectation and reality.

One-Mark Questions

Why did Captain Hagberd settle in Colebrook?
He believed his son Harry had once visited Colebrook and would return there. The hope of reunion led him to settle in the town.
How does Bessie treat Captain Hagberd’s beliefs?
Though she knows they are irrational, she listens to him patiently out of sympathy and avoids upsetting him.
What is Captain Hagberd’s idea of a perfect life for his son?
He envisions Harry settling down in Colebrook, marrying Bessie, and living in the house he prepared.
Why is the shovel symbolic in the story?
It represents Hagberd’s delusion and obsessive preparations for a future that never materializes.
What was Harry’s reaction to seeing his father again?
He was dismissive and irritated, considering his father’s hope as madness and a burden.

Three-Mark Questions

Describe the relationship between Bessie and Captain Hagberd.
Bessie and Captain Hagberd share an unusual friendship based on mutual loneliness. Hagberd sees her as the future daughter-in-law, while Bessie, though skeptical, listens to his delusions with tolerance and a quiet sadness. Their conversations over the garden fence are filled with Hagberd’s dreams and Bessie’s unspoken suffering.
How is the idea of ‘home’ treated in the story?
For Hagberd, home is a place of comfort and security he wants to offer his son. For Harry, however, home is a suffocating place he escaped long ago. The contrast shows that the concept of home is deeply personal—while one clings to it, the other resists it at all costs.
Why is Harry’s arrival such a tragic moment for Bessie?
Bessie, despite her doubts, had begun to share Hagberd’s hope. When Harry finally arrives, he is dismissive, selfish, and harsh. He crushes the dream Bessie was beginning to believe in, leaving her emotionally shattered and alone.

Value-Based Question

Q: What moral lesson can we learn from the story of Captain Hagberd and Bessie?The story teaches us about the danger of clinging too tightly to illusions. Captain Hagberd’s obsession with “tomorrow” robs him of the ability to live in the present or face reality. Bessie’s silent suffering shows the importance of courage in breaking free from oppressive circumstances. The story urges us to balance hope with realism and recognize the need for emotional honesty in relationships.

End

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