The Sea-Wolf is a psychological adventure novel about a literary critic who survives an ocean collision and comes under the dominance of Wolf Larsen, the powerful and amoral sea captain. The Sea Wolf tells the story of the soft, domesticated Humphrey van Weyden who is forced to become tough and self-reliant by exposure to cruelty and brutality. The story starts with him aboard a San Francisco ferry, called Martinez, which collides with another ship in the fog and sinks. He is set adrift in the Bay, eventually being picked up by Wolf Larsen. Larsen is the captain of a seal-hunting schooner, the Ghost. Brutal and cynical, yet also highly intelligent and intellectual he rules over his ship and terrorizes the crew with the aid of his exceptionally great physical strength. Larsen, who not believe in the immortality of the soul, finds no meaning in his life save for survival and pleasure and has come to despise all human life. Being interested in someone capable of intellectual disputes, he takes care of Van Weyden, whom he calls 'Hump', while forcing him to become a cabin boy, and learn to fight to protect himself from a brutal crew.