Dock Character Analysis

Uncle to Sophie, Cody, and Brian, and brother to Stew and Mo, Dock is the most level-headed of the uncles. While Mo is often grouchy, constantly yelling at Cody, and getting into fights with Stew, Dock often attempts to diffuse the tension aboard the boat. Sophie calls him “the good uncle,” and claims that he’s always calm and easygoing, never being fazed by any accidents that happen aboard the ship. The path The Wanderer takes along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada is largely inspired by Dock’s desire to find and/or get news about an old lover, Rosalie. Dock’s past with Rosalie isn’t described in any great detail in the book, but we can infer that their split caused Dock great pain, and that he misses her deeply. Though Dock is reunited with Rosalie in England, it’s not for long. He proposes to her, but she declines, saying that it’s too soon, and that she has other plans. Dock ends up deciding to stay in England in order to look after Bompie.