Philip Nolan is a character from Edward Everett Hale's short story "The Man Without a Country." In the story, Nolan is a young officer who, during a trial for treason, renounces his country in a fit of anger. As a consequence, he is condemned to live the rest of his life aboard a ship, never allowed to set foot on land or hear news of the United States again.
Throughout the story, Nolan experiences a range of emotions, including regret and sorrow for his actions. Instead of growing bitter and hating the country, he ultimately recognizes the depth of his mistake and comes to love and long for his country, even as he is separated from it. His experience becomes one of profound realization about the value of belonging and patriotism. In the end, he mourns the loss of his country rather than harboring bitterness or hatred towards it.