Essay - The Raft
The Raft
This essay is based on the short story 'The Raft' by Peter Orner written in 2000. I will be focusing on analysing and interpreting the text in general, as well as the psychological effects that war has to its attendees as well as their descendents. The short story is about our soon-to-be 13 year-old narrator and his grandfather Seymour, who was a captain on a Destroyer in the South Pacific during World War II. Seymour who suffers from short-term memory has a story to tell his grandson, a story that he has never told anyone before. Although our narrator has heard his grandfathers tail about his time on the Pacific Ocean many times, this time will prove to be different for him as well as his grandfather.
The short story, which is written in present as well as past tense form takes place in Seymour's study. It is described as cosy room carpeted with a soft white woolen shag. The atmosphere in the room is very serious. It is obvious that it is a big thing for Seymour to tell his grandson an important story from his time during World War 2. Although our narrator has heard the story many times before, he falls into the role of the curious grandson ready to man up and listen to his grandfathers exciting yet very serious stories. As Seymour begins his story-telling, it quickly becomes obvious that the story is a very big thing to him, and that he while telling the story almost becomes an entirely different person; “Don't Smile,” he says. “Just because I'm smiling, don't assume that I couldn't kill you right now. Know that about a man”. This also stands out as he is calling his grandson 'Sailor' instead of his real name. Almost as if he is letting his grandson into his story and making him a part of it. During the story-telling Seymour gets drawn into his own story, almost as if he is living it out inside of his head, while still being able to conversate with his 'Sailor'. It is as if he is stuck in the past.
At one point as Seymour's story-telling
This essay is based on the short story 'The Raft' by Peter Orner written in 2000. I will be focusing on analysing and interpreting the text in general, as well as the psychological effects that war has to its attendees as well as their descendents. The short story is about our soon-to-be 13 year-old narrator and his grandfather Seymour, who was a captain on a Destroyer in the South Pacific during World War II. Seymour who suffers from short-term memory has a story to tell his grandson, a story that he has never told anyone before. Although our narrator has heard his grandfathers tail about his time on the Pacific Ocean many times, this time will prove to be different for him as well as his grandfather.
The short story, which is written in present as well as past tense form takes place in Seymour's study. It is described as cosy room carpeted with a soft white woolen shag. The atmosphere in the room is very serious. It is obvious that it is a big thing for Seymour to tell his grandson an important story from his time during World War 2. Although our narrator has heard the story many times before, he falls into the role of the curious grandson ready to man up and listen to his grandfathers exciting yet very serious stories. As Seymour begins his story-telling, it quickly becomes obvious that the story is a very big thing to him, and that he while telling the story almost becomes an entirely different person; “Don't Smile,” he says. “Just because I'm smiling, don't assume that I couldn't kill you right now. Know that about a man”. This also stands out as he is calling his grandson 'Sailor' instead of his real name. Almost as if he is letting his grandson into his story and making him a part of it. During the story-telling Seymour gets drawn into his own story, almost as if he is living it out inside of his head, while still being able to conversate with his 'Sailor'. It is as if he is stuck in the past.
At one point as Seymour's story-telling