The Mosquito Coast

As the family trudges through the forest, Allie declares that he has had a transformative “Experience” and dubs his family “the first family.” They are fortunate to happen upon the home of a Miskito man and his wife. Allie takes credit for influencing the design of the couple’s boat when they see it docked along the river, willfully ignoring that it is constructed in a style that is typical of the region. Familiar to them, the man had accepted seeds from Allie in exchange for some work at Jeronimo, and the garden at the couple’s home is lush with produce grown from those seeds. Everyone but Allie accepts the food offered; Allie asks only for a shower and lords it over the others that he can withstand hunger. They leave in the man’s boat; the man believes he owes it to Allie because of all that he had done for them. Allie insists that he is just borrowing it.

As they progress along the river, Allie claims that all the United States has been destroyed. Independent of any outside information indicating such a conflict has started, Allie is convinced that the war in America he has described as imminent since the beginning of the novel is now underway. “I know what I’ve seen. I know about the armies, the soldiers—all the burning and killing. They knew where I was,” Allie says (275).

As the family continues along the river toward Brewer’s Lagoon (where Mr. Haddy’s mother resides) Jerry begins to express mounting resentment of their father. The twins remain unquestioningly worshipful, parroting Allie’s declarations about himself. Charlie still maintains his illusions about his father’s motives, romanticizing his idealism and ingenuity, but as he ponders, he comes to the realization that the motivation behind his father’s passion for inventing: “Father was ingenious because he needed comfort” (276). For the first time, Charlie comes to appreciate what his father has meant when in the past he has called himself selfish.

Charlie is saddened when Mr. Haddy departs their company, expressing a sense of familial loss. They continue up a stream connecting a series of lagoons until they can go no further, and Allie informs them of his plans for their new home. Mother, Jerry, and the twins become sick to the point of incapacitation. Allie berates them for weakness and accuses them of faking. The Foxes source the materials they need from the water, picking from the miscellaneous assortment of objects continuously washing ashore. Charlie is relieved that no one is around to see them in their current state, noting his awareness of how pathetic they have become.

When tensions rise between Allie and Mother, they argue when they believe the children are not in earshot. Mother is concerned about their survival and says, “Allie, you’ll kill us here” (288). Allie insists that there is nowhere else for them to go, expressing once again his belief that the United States has collapsed and consists of only scavengers. Though Mother knows that they are in a grave situation, she is willfully helpless and resigned to her attachment to Allie. Her children ask her how long they are going to stay, and she replies, “[T]he rest of our lives” (289).

As they wait for the rain which has still not come, the water in the family’s new location begins to recede. Allie spends his time tinkering away on a broken outboard motor they found, and feelings of dissent continue to rise among the boys. Jerry, who has become a target of Allie’s bullying, starts referring to him as “Farter,” and begins to challenge him with increased confidence, repeatedly suggesting that they go home. Allie maintains that home no longer exists. When he begins expressing newfound respect for the Indigenous people and what they have managed to accomplish under such harsh conditions, Charlie emphasizes that their settlement is in worse condition than any tribal settlement he has ever seen. A visit from Mr. Haddy, who knows the area well, is met with hostility from Allie, and he criticizes and rejects the food Mr. Haddy has brought.

Attempting to address him in a fashion that might render Allie receptive, Mr. Haddy gently draws Allie’s attention to the consistent, significant inadequacies of their homestead. Mr. Haddy goes to great lengths to try to make Allie understand the danger the family will be placed in once the torrential rains do begin to fall. His offer to bring gas and oil for the outboard, but Allie rejects the offer. As a last effort, he pleads with Allie to bring the family to Brewer’s Lagoon, where he lives and where it will be safe and easier for them to thrive. Allie becomes enraged and orders Mr. Haddy away.