Tomorrow
by Joseph Conrad
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The story explores the tragic gap between hope and reality through the character of Captain Hagberd, an old retired coasting-skipper living at Colebrook, who is obsessed with the fixed idea that his long-lost son Harry, who ran away to sea sixteen years earlier, will return 'tomorrow'. He lives always in this imagined tomorrow, planning Harry's marriage to his gentle neighbour Bessie Carvil, the patient daughter of a blind, tyrannical old man, whom Hagberd has half-promised as Harry's bride. Bessie, worn down by her hard life nursing her father, is drawn into the old man's dream and half-believes it herself. One evening a stranger arrives, the real Harry Hagberd, a rough, wandering adventurer who has come only to get some money. He and Bessie talk; for a moment Bessie glimpses the possibility of love and escape. But Harry has no intention of staying; when his father, hearing his voice, refuses to recognise him, insisting the real Harry will only come 'tomorrow', Harry laughs, takes what money he can, and leaves for good. Bessie is left shattered, her one chance of happiness gone, as the old captain goes on tranquilly awaiting a tomorrow that will never come.
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The story is a study of illusion and the tragic distance between hope and reality, showing how an old man's fixed dream of 'tomorrow' destroys a young woman's chance of happiness today.
Captain Hagberd's fixed idea
Captain Hagberd, a retired coasting-skipper at Colebrook, is obsessed with the belief that his son Harry, who ran away to sea sixteen years ago, will return 'tomorrow'. He lives entirely in this imagined future, buying things for Harry's homecoming and planning his marriage to his neighbour Bessie Carvil.
Bessie's hard life
Bessie Carvil is a patient, dutiful young woman worn down by nursing her blind, ill-tempered and tyrannical father. Lonely and starved of affection, she is drawn into Captain Hagberd's dream and half-believes his promise that she will one day marry Harry, it becomes her own secret hope of love and escape.
The stranger arrives
One evening a rough, wandering stranger appears, the real Harry Hagberd, now a hardened adventurer who has drifted through the world and returned only to get some money from his father. He talks with Bessie, and for a brief moment she glimpses the possibility of the love and life she has longed for.
The dream shatters
But Harry has no wish to stay. When old Hagberd hears his son's voice, he refuses to recognise him, insisting that the true Harry will come only 'tomorrow'. Harry laughs at the delusion, takes what money he can, and leaves for good. Bessie is left devastated, her one chance of happiness gone, while the old captain serenely goes on waiting for a tomorrow that will never arrive.