Tintin Forums

Hi!

When all the reporters come to interview the Captain early in the morning (one of the reporters comments on this (p.5)) at Marlinspike, he offers them all a whisky (p.7).

I found it strange that (from what I can see) all the reporters eagerly accepted a glass! More so, I found strange the the Captain would even think to offer guests alcohol so early in the day?

Is this a European/ English custom of some sort?
I know in the morning in Australia you would be looking to give a guest tea, coffee or juice of some sort.

My only thinking is that Hergé put this in as a further way to show how the Captain can't handle his alcohol any more, a plot device.

Either way, it seems a bit strange it's done in the morning as shown.

What are your thoughts??

Have you ever met any reporters? ;-)
I believe there's less all-day boozing in journalism these days, but if you listen to old British journalists talking about the pre-1990s days, when the UK newspaper industry was centred on Fleet Street in London, it's clear that most of them were "three sheets to the wind" for much of the working day. Many were functioning alcoholics, who saw it as a point of pride to be able to produce copy whilst drunk.
Even allowing for a certain amount of macho exaggeration in their accounts, I think it's fair to say that over-consumption of alcohol and journalism used to be fairly synonymous.

That's how it was in the UK, anyway. I wouldn't know for sure if Belgian gentlemen of the press had the same reputation, but looking at this scene in Picaros, I'd guess they did!


I think your last thought is correct.
It would be unusual (in the UK, and Belgium, I think) to offer guests - even journalists - an alcoholic drink that early in the day. I think you're right that Hergé was using the scene to show another example of Haddock no longer being able to drink alcohol, thus building up the mystery of that plot thread.
Also, I guess the fact that Haddock's so keen to use the journalists' visit as an excuse to get the whisky out so early in the morning usefully establishes to readers that the Captain really is still a functioning alcoholic, rather than someone who just likes a drink in the evening.
We need to know this so that Calculus's decision to "cure" him without his permission makes sense when that's revealed later.

Perhaps in the back of his mind the Captain wanted to test the dodgy whisky, and the large number of press and media reporters was a perfect opportunity.

mat

I agree, robbo! And doesn't the Captain think to himself (at least in the English edition) something about how he was the only one who thought the whisky was disgusting? (Sorry, I don't have Picaros on hand right now so I don't know the exact wording.)

I'm not so sure that the Captain (or Hergé for that matter) would have thought that what he was doing was in any way remarkable, or even inadvisable.

For a start, the Captain is a sailor, and certainly in the British Navy it was seen as acceptable to commence drinking when the "sun is over the fore-yard/ yard-arm".
This refers to the issuing of a rum ration to all sailors on a daily basis, when the sun was seen over the top of one of the arms of the mast on a sailing-ship, a practice which persisted in the Navy for many years, and is sort of equivalent to saying that drinking begins at 11.00 a.m. (or earlier, depending on where the sun is).

Secondly, I think that the idea of a drink offered as hospitality wasn't uncommon, especially on the continent; I can recall visiting France as an eleven year-old and at almost any place we stopped to meet people socially, a drink was offered, which included watered wine for children (not that I had any inclination for that, much prefering Orangina - and at one place I did get given a bottle of Coke, which found at the back of a cupboard, and which was left over from the war...).

I'm glad you agree with me Ayesha, it's been a while since I read Picaros, but we seem to remember the incident the same way! I just checked the page, and your memory is correct.

mat

But as I recall he then thought that maybe it was because Nestor was buying a new brand of whisky instead of the usual Loch Lomond and actually goes to ask him about it - catching him in the act of drinking some himself.
That should rule out him using the reporters as guinea-pigs for testing the whisky.
Ever heard of a champagne breakfast? I suppose some rich people even have whisky breakfasts - and Haddock is wealthy, there's not denying it.

I think that the Captain was more likely testing the whisky on the reporters than offering it out of politeness. He usually is very reluctant and upset to share his alcohol with anyone, as in The Castafiore Emerald when Castafiore tells him that he must offer the band champagne. ("What?...Champagne?...Never!")

However, I guess there is nothing strange in him offering it so early. The reporters seem to take it as a bonus to their job, for as soon they see it, they look happy.

Thanks for all your feedback, it's great to get some different opinions!
I think the Balthazar's comments of the Captain being a functioning alcoholic and having any excuse to have a drink rings very true!!

I found it hilarious how eager all the reporters gladly take the Whisky, I reckon they are up for seconds for sure! ha ha...

No question about it. The Captain is the architype of an alcoholic: childish, bombastic, cynical, he has difficulties to control emotions and actions, his mind is obsessive ...

All his doings are related to alcohol. He must plan his trips well, the booze mustn't run out: Calculus Affair, Red Rackham's Treasure, Shooting Star, Tibet, Explorers ...

He drinks way too much, when he shouldn't, acts like a fool ...

And this, take a look at the Captain's face and look at Red Rackham, page 44 frame 6. Hergé's genius drawing, a portrait of an alcoholic.

This is even better: Calculus Affair page 25-27. Tintin and Topolino are having conversation but Captain is not "present", his obsessive mind is stuck to the wine bottle. Nothing exists to Captain but that bottle. That's how an alcoholic's mind works.

And so on ...

How can Hergé draw a plausible and fantastic picture of an alcoholic? By accident? I don't think so...