Character Development the Boat by Alistair Macleod
Character Development
The Son
The son had loved his father dearly but does not favor his way of life. His interest in school greatly outweighed his interest or desire to work on ‘The Boat’. He still had a love for the sea and in some way felt like he should carry out his family’s tradition. After his uncle had accepted a new job he took his position on the boat and promised his father that we would continue to sail with him for as long as he lived, and when his father passed despite the desires of his mother he followed his dreams and pursued education and all of its wonders. After living his life he finds himself longing for the sea again and isn’t so satisfied with his life.
He has a love for the sea because he would always see his father wake up every morning and work his aging life away to provide for his family. He also loved it because it part of his family’s roots, his uncles from his mother’s side are all fishermen. He toughed it out with his father because he felt that is was very brave of his father to choose a life doing something he didn’t want to do than forever following his own dreams. He chose to pursue education because he knew it’s what he really wanted to do and that in a way he was living the life his fathered only ever dreamed of.
The Father
The father was a typical fishermen; he would prep his boat as all fishermen do and wake up early mornings and be off to his post. Although the father was good at what he does he did not have a love for the job, instead he loved to lie down on his bed smoke cigarettes and read as many novels as he could. The father himself admits to his son that he wishes he went to university, showing us that his true dream was not to be a fisherman. The job really took a toll on the father’s body; he did not tan like his wife’s brothers, and would come home with cut up lips and burned skin. In the end I believe the father was disappointed that his son chose to stay and fish with him but in a way grateful that he had
The Son
The son had loved his father dearly but does not favor his way of life. His interest in school greatly outweighed his interest or desire to work on ‘The Boat’. He still had a love for the sea and in some way felt like he should carry out his family’s tradition. After his uncle had accepted a new job he took his position on the boat and promised his father that we would continue to sail with him for as long as he lived, and when his father passed despite the desires of his mother he followed his dreams and pursued education and all of its wonders. After living his life he finds himself longing for the sea again and isn’t so satisfied with his life.
He has a love for the sea because he would always see his father wake up every morning and work his aging life away to provide for his family. He also loved it because it part of his family’s roots, his uncles from his mother’s side are all fishermen. He toughed it out with his father because he felt that is was very brave of his father to choose a life doing something he didn’t want to do than forever following his own dreams. He chose to pursue education because he knew it’s what he really wanted to do and that in a way he was living the life his fathered only ever dreamed of.
The Father
The father was a typical fishermen; he would prep his boat as all fishermen do and wake up early mornings and be off to his post. Although the father was good at what he does he did not have a love for the job, instead he loved to lie down on his bed smoke cigarettes and read as many novels as he could. The father himself admits to his son that he wishes he went to university, showing us that his true dream was not to be a fisherman. The job really took a toll on the father’s body; he did not tan like his wife’s brothers, and would come home with cut up lips and burned skin. In the end I believe the father was disappointed that his son chose to stay and fish with him but in a way grateful that he had