Secret Sharer Lesson Plan

What is the effect of having Leggatt first appear to the captain as a drowned corpse?

Leggatt first appearing as a headless, drowned corpse sets a dark, ominous tone in the story, and the reader expects the story to continue in this fashion. Even after it is revealed that Leggatt is still alive, the tone does not leave the story, as Leggatt reveals that he has murdered someone and is trying to escape arrest. Though Leggatt is not a corpse, he is responsible for a corpse. The story remains marked by darkness, both literal and figurative, throughout, and this is the first moment that the reader is introduced to this dark world.

What is the thematic significance of...