Suggestions

Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
  • Shakespeare dark gray
    • No Fear Shakespeare Translations
    • Shakespeare Study Guides
    • Shakespeare Life & Times
    • Glossary of Shakespeare Terms
  • Literature dark gray
    • No Fear Literature Translations
    • Literature Study Guides
    • Glossary of Literary Terms
    • How to Write Literary Analysis
  • Other Subjects dark gray
    • Biography
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computer Science
    • Drama
    • Economics
    • Film
    • Health
    • History
    • Math
    • Philosophy
    • Physics
    • Poetry
    • Psychology
    • Short Stories
    • Sociology
    • US Government and Politics
  • Test Prep PLUS dark gray
    • Test Prep Lessons
    • AP® English Literature
    • AP® English Language
  • Teacher dark gray
    • SparkTeach
    • Teacher's Handbook
  • Blog
My PLUS Dashboard
  • Account Details
  • Subscription & Billing

Please wait while we process your payment

Reset Password

  • Please wait while we process your payment

    Log in Create account

    Sparknotes

  • By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.

    Don’t have an account? Subscribe now

    Step 1 of 4

    Create Your Account

    Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial. Get instant access to all the benefits of SparkNotes PLUS! Cancel within the first 7 days and you won't be charged. We'll even send you a reminder.

    • Ad-free experience
    • Study notes
    • Flashcards & Quizzes
    • AP® English Test Prep
    • Plus much more

  • Already have an account? Log in

    Step 1 of 4

    Create Your Account done

    Step 2 of 4

    Choose Your Plan

    BEST VALUE

    Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!

    Step 2 of 4

    Choose Your Plan done

    Step 3 of 4

    Add Your Payment Details

  • We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country.

  • Step 3 of 4

    Add Your Payment Details done

    Step 4 of 4

    Payment Summary

    SparkNotes Plus

     Change

    US + tax

    You'll be billed only after your free trial ends.

    7-day Free Trial

    DUE NOW

    $0.00

    Total due on July 2, 2022

    This is not a valid promo code.

    Promo Code

    SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.

    Step 2 of 4

    Choose Your Plan

    Step 3 of 4

    Add Your Payment Details

    Step 4 of 4

    Payment Summary

    Suggestions

    Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
    • My Account Icon My Account white
      • Account Details
      • Subscription & Billing
      My PLUS Dashboard
    • Shakespeare white
      • No Fear Shakespeare Translations
      • Shakespeare Study Guides
      • Shakespeare Life & Times
      • Glossary of Shakespeare Terms
    • Literature white
      • No Fear Literature Translations
      • Literature Study Guides
      • Glossary of Literary Terms
      • How to Write Literary Analysis
    • Other Subjects white
      • Biography
      • Biology
      • Chemistry
      • Computer Science
      • Drama
      • Economics
      • Film
      • Health
      • History
      • Math
      • Philosophy
      • Physics
      • Poetry
      • Psychology
      • Short Stories
      • Sociology
      • US Government and Politics
    • Test Prep PLUS white
      • Test Prep Lessons
      • AP® English Literature
      • AP® English Language
    • Teacher white
      • SparkTeach
      • Teacher's Handbook
    • Blog
    • Help

    Please wait while we process your payment

    expired-logo

    Your PLUS subscription has expired

    • We’d love to have you back! Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools.
    Renew your subscription

    Please wait while we process your payment

    expired-logo

    snpromo-logo
    • Looking for exclusive, AD-FREE study tools? Look no further!

    Typee

    Herman Melville

    Study Guide Full Text
    • Study Guide
    • Full Text
    • Summary
      • Summary & Analysis
      • Preface & Chapters 1–4
      • Chapters 5–8
      • Chapters 9–11
      • Chapters 12–15
      • Chapters 16–18
      • Chapters 19–24
      • Chapters 24–26
      • Chapters 27–30
      • Chapters 31–33
      • Chapters 34–Toby's Escape, the Sequel
      • Full Book
      • Full Book Summary
      • Key Facts
    • Characters
      • Character List
      • Tommo
      • Mehevi
      • Fayaway
      • Toby
    • Literary Devices
      • Themes
      • Motifs
      • Symbols
    • Quotes
      • Important Quotes Explained
    • Quick Quizzes
      • Book
      • Full Book Quiz
      • Preface & Chapters 1-4
      • Chapters 5-8
      • Chapters 9-11
      • Chapters 12-15
      • Chapters 16-18
      • Chapters 19-24
      • Chapters 24-26
      • Chapters 27-30
      • Chapters 31-33
      • Chapters 34-Toby's Escape, the Sequel
        • More
        • Context
        • Plot Overview
        • Character List
        • Analysis of Major Characters
        • Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
        • Essays
          • Mini Essays
          • Suggested Essay Topics
        • Further Study
          • Suggestions for Further Reading
          • Herman Melville and Typee Background

        Please wait while we process your payment

        snplus-logo

        Unlock your FREE SparkNotes PLUS trial!

        Unlock your FREE Trial!

        Sign up and get instant access to bookmarks.
        • Ad-Free experience
        • Easy-to-access study notes
        • Flashcards & Quizzes
        • AP® English test prep
        • Plus much more
        Already have an account? Log in
        Characters

        Character List

        Characters Character List
        • Tommo

          The narrator. He is an adventurous fellow in his early twenties who longs for liberty so much that he flees his whaling ship in order to live amongst the natives. He also is a fairly open minded American. He is able to appreciate and accept the native culture for its refinement and nobility, unlike many other Europeans and Americans who simply dismiss it as heathen without any appreciation of its arts.

          Read an in-depth analysis of Tommo .

        • Toby

          Toby is a young, quiet man who agrees to accompany the narrator on his adventure. We are told that Toby speaks rarely, but that he smiles and never speaks of his past. During their adventure, Toby serves primarily to complement the narrator's character. Their opinions and perspectives frequently are contrary to one another. For example, while Toby believes that they are heading into the Happar valley, Tommo thinks it likely belongs to the Typees. When Tommo feels happy in the valley, Toby remains distrustful of the people around him. Toby's character is not as fully developed as Tommo's, but he does remain a loyal friend who is inadvertently separated from Tommo in the end.

          Read an in-depth analysis of Toby .

        • Fayaway

          Fayaway is the beautiful maiden with whom Tommo falls in love. Fayaway has blue eyes, olive skin, and long dark tresses. She represents the ultimate in innocence and beauty in the Typee landscape. Her character is an allusion to Eve in Eden. Like the first woman, Fayaway fully captivates Tommo with her loveliness. Some critics, however, have noted that Fayaway's character is never developed, so she remains a largely symbolic figure whose inner thoughts remain hidden.

          Read an in-depth analysis of Fayaway .

        • Kory-Kory

          The man appointed to be Tommo's servant. Kory-Kory is a kind, industrious fellow who constantly attends to Tommo. His character is slightly comic because he is always running around pantomiming to Tommo when Tommo does not understand. Kory- Kory's appearance itself is slightly comic as he is heavily tattooed and has a shaven head except for two large tufts of hair that flop about. Despite his comic role, Kory-Kory is faithful and kind, always caring for Tommo.

        • Mehevi

          The most important chief of the Typees. Mehevi's status amongst the Typees is similar to that of a king. Mehevi is a noble and dignified figure whom everyone, including Tommo, treats with respect. Mehevi is also friendly. Tommo spends almost every afternoon sitting and eating with him because he so enjoys Mehevi's company. Mehevi is a classic "noble savage," someone so dignified that they do not need the trappings of civilization to demonstrate the fine person within. His stature speaks for itself.

          Read an in-depth analysis of Mehevi .

        • Marheyo

          The senior man in the house where Tommo lives. Marheyo is kind and sympathetic. He often gives Tommo compassionate glances when they are around the house. In the final scene, it is Marheyo who insists that Tommo should be free because he needs to return to "home" and "mother."

        • Tinor

          The very industrious wife of Marheyo. Tinor is an expert at preparing "poee- poee" the classic breadfruit dish of the island. Tommo believes that she is perhaps the hardest working person in the whole valley. Aside from profiling her culinary skills, her character is not developed.

        • Namonee

          A Typee warrior whose head Tommo shaves. Later Namonee is injured in a battle with the Happars. His character is not further developed.

        • Marnoo

          A native who enjoys "taboo" status and who is able to therefore wander around the island. Marnoo is an elegant person who possesses a dignified stature as well as sexually alluring qualities. Tommo feels attracted to Marnoo just like all the Typees do. Marnoo is described as a Polynesian "Apollo." Marnoo ultimately is also a kind figure because it is he who tells other natives that Tommo is amongst the Typees, which eventually leads to Tommo's rescue.

        • Captain Vangs

          The Captain of the Dolly. Captain Vangs is a cruel captain who overworks his crew and fails to care for their needs. Captain Vangs's heartlessness can be contrasted with Mehevi's generosity. While Captain Vangs tries to enslave his crew in a barren landscape without food, Mehevi offers up food and feasts to his people in the lush Polynesian valley. Captain Vangs's name even sounds harsh.

        • Mow-Mow

          A fierce one-eyed chieftain who appears several times, mostly at the very end of the book. Mow-Mow is a threatening figure who primarily serves to contrast with the gentler nobility of Chief Mehevi. The expression of Mow-Mow's ferocity is the final image we receive of the Typees. It is not consistent with the peaceful image that has been developed throughout the book.

        • Karakoee

          The native man who comes to rescue Tommo. Little is know about him except that he lives around the Nukuheva Bay and interacts frequently with the Europeans there. Because he helps to free Tommo, he appears to be a good, friendly figure.

        • Jimmy

          An old European sailor who settled down on the islands and who speaks the native Polynesian tongue. He often interprets for the Frenchmen. He also enjoys "taboo" status, allowing him to travel through the island with no harm from the natives. Jimmy appears to be an unkind figure, since he basically trades Toby away to a whaling ship with no consideration that Tommo will be trapped.

        • Kolory

          The chief priest of the Typees. He presides over the Feast of the Calabashes and frequently conducts rituals with Mon Artu, the chief Typeean God.

        • Karky

          The Typee tattoo artist. His character is not developed, although he frequently expresses his enthusiasm for having Tommo tattooed.

        • Mowanna

          The puppet King placed in power by the colonial French to rule the Marquesas.

        • Rear Admiral Du Petit Thouars

          The French admiral who has recently taken control of the Marquesas Islands. It is suggested that he is a brutal figure, although he is just briefly mentioned.

        Next section Tommo
        Test your knowledge

        Take the Character List Quick Quiz

        Take a study break

        Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Single Sentence

        Take a study break

        The 7 Most Embarrassing Proposals in Literature

        Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? x

        Popular pages: Typee

        • Tommo: Character Analysis CHARACTERS

        • Important Quotations Explained QUOTES

        • Themes LITERARY DEVICES

        • Review Quiz FURTHER STUDY

        Take a Study Break

        • Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Single Sentence

        • The 7 Most Embarrassing Proposals in Literature

        • The 6 Best and Worst TV Show Adaptations of Books

        • QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

        Sign up for our latest news and updates!
        By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. You can view our Privacy Policy here. Unsubscribe from our emails at any time.

        The #1 FREE study site for students

        • Most Popular
        • No Fear Shakespeare
        • Literature Guides
        • Other Subjects
        • SparkNotes Blog
        • More Help
        • About
        • Help
        • Contact Us
        • How to Cite SparkNotes
        • How to Write Literary Analysis
        • Advertise
        • Find Us On
             
           

        Copyright © SparkNotes LLC

        • Terms of Use
        • |
        • Privacy
        • |
        • Cookie Policy
        • |
        • Do Not Sell My Personal Information