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"I sought out young Fayaway, and endeavored to learn from her, if possible, the truth. This gentle being had early attracted my regard, not only from her extraordinary beauty, but from the attractive cast of her countenance, singularly expressive of intelligence and humanity. Of all the natives she alone seemed to appreciate the effect which the peculiarity of the circumstances in which we were placed had produced upon the minds of my companion and myself."

The narrator makes this statement in Chapter 14. This passage is notable because it is perhaps the deepest revelation of Fayaway's character in the entire book. But, the point is, the passage is actually not very revealing at all. Overall, Melville fails to develop Fayaway as a real, three-dimensional character. Many critics believe that almost all the characters in Typee are poorly developed. Fayaway's lack of description is perhaps the most striking because she is supposed to be so important to Tommo. Although we know that Tommo loves her we scarcely have any idea of what she thinks of him. Her inner thoughts are never shown. Furthermore, she rarely speaks. Fayaway symbolizes the utmost beauty and innocence in the Typee valley, she is "Eve" to Tommo's "Adam." Still, while we can admire her beauty and lovely face as Tommo does, it is difficult to appreciate the complexity of her inner character because she does not appear to have one.

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