How Does Annie Proulx Use The Character Of Quoyle In The Shipping News

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In the novel The Shipping News the author, Annie Proulx presents the life of Quoyle, a man in his mid-30`s, who has always struggled with difficulties. The novel shows the story of a common man who can be us or anyone we know. We all find ourselves in moments of the story, in lessons, the main character learns. The Shipping News does not talk about an extraordinary destiny, but it attracts any kind of reader because of the natural, real life kind of problems and difficulties.
The author describes Quoyle as a large man with no harmonious features: large with a huge chin. His childhood was marked by a father and an older brother who did not love him. “Due to Quoyle's differences, he found nothing but rejection from his school yard peers and even …show more content…

Point: At the beginning of each chapter the author includes a motto that gives the reader an idea about the changes that occur during the following pages. Proof: The introduction to Chapter 20 is an extract from Ashley’s Book of Knot: the riddle called “The Pirate and the Jolly Bout”. Comment: The motto talks about a dilemma of how prisoners free themselves from pirates, just like Quoyle attempts to free himself from old hurtful memories from his childhood. The excerpt introduces an event when the main character finds his co-worker's father grave and there he remembers how violent his own father was. These memories helped Quoyle to understand how deep his wounds from his childhood are. The motto at the beginning of the chapter gives the reader a clue about the symbolism of the …show more content…

Point: After the family moves to Newfoundland for the first time his aunt Agnis expresses Quoyle’s inner voice that reveals his wounds in order to be healed and overcome. Proof: The dialog between Quoyle and Agnis about buying a boat: “Aunt, I don’t know anything about boats. They are expensive. They are uncomfortable. They are dangerous. You need a dock or some- thing. I don’t want a boat.” Agnis replies: “Afraid it’s the sensible answer” (Proulx, 101).
Comment: For the first time in the plot Quoyle has to face his fears. He finds excuses to avoid buying the boat because of his fear of water from childhood. His aunt who knows about the situation expresses his fear verbally. He cannot escape his old wounds any longer, and as a result, shortly after this dialog, he buys a boat.
b. Point: Quoyle’s older daughter Bunny becomes the mirror of his childhood pain he needs to be aware of. Bunny sees in her imagination a dog with red eyes. Proof: Quoyle is afraid that his own childhood affected his children: “Feared that loss, the wretchedness of childhood, his own failure to love her enough had damaged Bunny”. Then the author concludes: “A feeling they weren’t talking about Bunny at all. But who, then?” (Proulx 179) Comments: In this quote, Quoyle is afraid his childhood trauma will project towards his relationship with his daughter. The author suggests in the last lines of the chapter that Bunny`s fear is, in fact, his own fear. Again, the fact that this trauma comes to light

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