Authority

As a moral tract for the 1950s, The Caine Mutiny suggests that a strong authority is all-important for safeguarding the nation. Keith, for both his father and himself, turns down his first vocation-a fun, independent life of playing the piano-to fight for his country. This enables him to become a man in his own mind. His training allows him to put aside his own fear and concerns to take command when Keefer places the ship and its men in danger.

The novel centers on Queeg's inability to embody authority or command respect. Queeg begs for it: "There is such a thing as loyalty upward, and such a thing as loyalty downward. I desire and expect to get absolute loyalty upward." Queeg quotes from the regulation book and constantly reminds his men that he is the author of their fitness reports. Further, he will resort to court-martialing them if...