Free Sample Essays > Literature
“The Black Joke” by Farley Mowat
Canadian stories, although from the same nation, each portray their own distinguishing element that is only found in the region they originate from. However, when comparisons are made between a story perhaps from Ontario, to a story from the Maritimes, the ‘single unifying and informing symbol’ can be easily determined. When comparing the Maritimes novel, “The Black Joke” by Farley Mowat, to the Ontario based short story, “Two Fishermen” by Morley Callaghan, many distinguishing events can be found. These following events then can be used to link both stories, they include: the setting, the main characters, and the aspects of uncertain suspense. As Margaret Atwood stated that Canadian literature have a ‘single unifying and informing symbol’, it is going to be proved by means of these criteria to truly figure how these stories relate to each other.
Firstly, the events of the novel and the short story occur in similar, yet different characterized settings and atmosphere. One fact is the state of the environment. In both stories, the major events take place in the midst of a water body, or near the shores of a water body. In terms of the Black Joke, rather half the events occur aboard the merchant ship, The Black Joke, when it makes a journey through the Atlantic Ocean. This is evident because in the beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to “the best fishing vessel in the world.” The following quote speaks for itself, “-she was able to carry sail in weather which forced the bigger ships heave-to, and if there was another ship on the Banks...who could catch her... Black Joke never met her.” the other half of the events is depicted in the shores of the island of St Pierre, Colombier Rock, Ship hole and Miquelon; which also lie on the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, in the short story, “Two Fishermen” the major role played by the two characters- Smitty and Michael; the hangman and the reporter- was during an apparent fishing trip in the midst of lake, presumably a water body. It was in a boat, in that lake, that the exposition and practically half the story took place; therefore, giving the site an important significance to Smitty and Michael relations, which is literally the entire story. The following quoted from the Two Fishermen speaks of the significance of the trip in a distant point-of-view, nevertheless, it can be clearly understood: “Grinning, they toasted each other and said together, ‘Happy days.’…The boat remained motionless on the placid water,” (93). Basically, the quote depicts two guys having a ‘grand time’, and the author instantly describes the setting of the boat on the placid water; as though the atmosphere holds great importance to the theme.
Despite the setting, the main characters also provide many comparative aspects in these stories; specifically, comparison among the characters whom were deceived. The one betrayed upon can be exemplified by Jonathan Spence from the Black Joke, and Smitty from the Two Fishermen. In the black joke, Jonathan faces a false [next page]