Letters From The Samantha :: essays research papers

An interesting short story is "Letters from The Samantha" by correspond Helpin. This story tells the fascinating tale, in the form of never sent letters, of an emulator brought aboard an iron-hulled sailing charge in 1909 by fuzz Low, the ships captain. Although the author makes a point to tell the reader, through pig Low, that the animal does not symbolize anything or mean anything, in fact, "He stands for nothing" (280), several arguments can be made to contradict this. genius could argue that the imitate symbolized the untamed and r bely used wild aspect of Samson Low through a comparison of their personalities, appearances, and the way they atomic number 18 treated by others. Samson Low was a captain of a ship owned by the Green Star Line. He is a stickler for rules and the proper code of conduct. When writing to his company, he reminds them of "the complete absence of disciplinary action against me" (271). This serves to highlight that he has n ever been in trouble or broken the rules. He is comfortable and comforted by his pattern of faithfulness and thinks others must be as well "Though my subordinates sometimes complain, they are grateful no doubt, for my firm rule and tidiness" (271). His ship is incessantly on time or even ahead of schedule. The picture multicoloured is of a steady, reliable, conservative man who always does the appropriate thing in a situation. However, a typhoon the ship sails through reveals a different, less predictable side. When describing the typhoon, Samson thinks, "I confess that I have wished to be in all taken up by such a thing, to be upraised into the clouds" (272). This is hardly the thought of a truly buttoned-down man. He similarly imagines surrendering to the seas, "But I have not, and will not." (272). While he seems pith with his life, Samson Lows secret yearnings sometimes show through. It is because of this Samson seems jealous of the ape and the thi ngs it has experienced. Samson has only dreamed while the ape has actually lived. The ape, when first aboard, climbs the chisel to the highest point from there he has a total view of the ship below and all that goes on oft like a "pharaonic" captain would do. While in the rigging the ape shrieks and hollers frightening the crew until the captain climbs up to it.