Literary Analysis of Alistair MacLeod's 'The Boat': Danger, Tradition, and Language
Overview
This essay analyzes Alistair MacLeod's short story 'The Boat,' focusing on a pivotal scene where the narrator pilots a fishing boat with his father during winter. The analysis examines how MacLeod uses imagery, irony, and language to convey the dangers of fishing, the transmission of family tradition across generations, and the unpredictability of the sea.
What this essay covers
- Summary and context of the passage from 'The Boat' describing the narrator's experience piloting the fishing boat
- Analysis of imagery and literary devices depicting danger, including descriptions of high waves, freezing water, and poor visibility
- Examination of generational transmission of fishing tradition and knowledge, including the irony of non-swimming fishermen
- Discussion of language elements such as 'very high' and 'useless' that create tension and emphasize peril
Preview
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Part A
Alistair MacLeod's "The Boat"
The passage is taken from Alistair Macleod's short story "The Boat." The narrator tells the story about his experience piloting a fishing boat with his father during winter. The narrator says he was at the tiller while his father stood at the stern. They communicated with his father by shouting over the high sounds of the seawater (MacLeod 23). The engine also produced high sounds, and they had no choice but to raise their voices while talking. Also, he compares himself to his uncle and stands at the place where the uncle used to stand while on the boat (MacLeod). However, on the last run of their season, which happened on the 21st of November, the narrator turned back to look at his father and realized he was no longer there. That moment dawns on him that his father would never return.
This passage of the story has significance in that it highlights to the readers the nature of fishing and the risks that fishermen and other stakeholders face daily. Imagery such as the "waves of the grey Atlantic" being very high and the sea water and weather being freezing creates an image of danger and foreboding (MacLeod). Additionally, the passage indicates that there were no signposts in the sea, and the visibility was overly poor such that the fishermen could barely see in front of them (MacLeod). This depicts how dangerous the waters can be for fishermen trying to achieve their fishing goals.