Who is Captain Hawley from The Winter of Our Discontent and what is their importance?

Captain Hawley is Ethan's grandfather, a whaler and ship owner, who is now deceased. Ethan holds his grandfather in much higher regard than he does his father, as the Captain was a strong man and was able to retain the family fortune. Ethan holds imaginary conversations with his grandfather, and it is the Captain who continually reminds Ethan about the family heritage and the trickery of the Baker family.