Prospector's Trail Sparknotes

In the short story, “Prospector’s Trail”, the author Cathy Jewison makes the characters seem like real people. This can be illustrated by some conflicts that are evident in the story; similarly in everyday life with everyday people. The characters also look authentic because the characters behave the same way the “average” human would and the reader is able to relate to them in some way.

Two dominant characters in the narrative, Norman and Jennifer, are a newlywed couple and the rigidity among them is discernible throughout the story, for example: "Jennifer shook her finger at him [Norman]...'Don't move for the rest of the night. Got it?'" This quote clearly displays acrimony between the two and it is quite normal for a husband and wife to argue since they are still getting to know

each other. Readers can relate to Norman after he figures where he truly resides. An example of this is: “You have a gift. You’re in your domain. Do you realize you haven’t fallen once since you’ve been out here?” (pg.30). An individual can compare to this quote because a part of being a human is finding out where you fit in or belong. Due to Norman having a “gift” with finding items at the dump, he had found where he genuinely fits in. One stereotypical character I encountered was Roy being the man who resides in the bush. For example: “Noise! Traffic! Filth! I can’t stand the commotion there, that’s why I come out of the city.” (pg.21). this displays that Roy would rather have a cabin life rather than dwelling in a city full of agitation. Roy is also construed as a grizzled old man with a creased face and a graying beard which is what I imagine a typical man who lives in a bush to view like.
During the discussion, Raza made the interesting point that smoke released from the computer can be compared to a relief for Norman. It’s is like all the bad stuff getting released just like Norman now, who has gotten rid of Jennifer, as there will be no individual anymore to interfere with his life and can now reside peacefully by following what he loves (prospecting at the dump). “He slept peacefully for the first time in months”, is a great example of this.
Dakota’s observation of Jennifer’s attitude and her apathetic mood towards camping reminds me of my mother.

She doesn't really care for camping; she'd rather be at home watching TV. She goes because my dad likes to once in a while. I, on the other hand, love to camp and adore being out in the nature.

How the author plays with your mind during the story is also commendable. The reader, along with the main character Norman think that they are going “prospecting”; getting gold, but what turns out is unbelievable. The irony behind Roy taking Norman to a dump to find valuable items really surprised me.

This segment of the story was emphasized by Jinal who suggested that how the hopeless Norman changes in the end when he finds out that prospecting at the dump is truly where he belongs.

Pulkit talked about symbolism in the story. He expanded that the symbolic significance can be seen on Norman’s own shirt and the other shirt which he found in the Yellowknife dump. The shirt found at the dump is a symbol because it symbolizes Norman finding a piece of himself in Yellowknife. I agree that the shirt found in the dump is a symbol because it delineates Norman finding a piece of himself in

Yellowknife.
In “The Prospector’s Trail”, Roy was like an instructor to the young Norman. He had experience on how to get by in Yellowknife and informed those skills to Norman, who later used them to his advantage. He knew where the wealth was at in prospecting, not mining for gold, but mining for valuable junk at the dump. Roy helped Norman out exceedingly throughout the story, just as he said when people move to Yellowknife “some make it, some don’t”. Overall, Roy was the turning point in Norman’s life. Due to his wise and resourceful ways, he helped Norman prepare for his new life in Yellowknife. Now Norman “sleeps soundly” at night as he is fulfilled.
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