Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

In the novel, 'A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove' by James Moloney, how is the osprey significant to the story?

Good Essays
908 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
In the novel, 'A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove' by James Moloney, how is the osprey significant to the story?
The osprey in the novel 'A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove' by James Moloney is a shiny key to understanding Carl. In many ways the osprey is a mirror image of Carl, in its appearance, pain and suffering, recovery and how it is set free. If you can unlock the secret of the osprey you can see the real Carl.

The image of the osprey is remarkably similar to that of Carl's, it was a -large bird, brown and grey, its head covered by a canvas hood. (p74)- This matches some aspects of Carl's body and personality. Carl was a large boy, miserable like the colour grey and he was shy like a hood was covering his head, because he did not want to see what people responded to his body. -he was ashamed of his fleshy bulges(p42)- what if little kids pointed at him opening their mouths with an innocent- hey mummy look at the whale(p42)- each time a remark like this was directed at him he was humiliated and hurt.

Carl seemed to be in constant emotional pain, he was hurt by many people who should be showing him love and affection, especially his mother Kerry Matt. Kerry was mentally ill, she could not control it-Kerry lost herself. Just didn't come home from the supermarket. (p4)- Even though Carl new his mother was ill he could not help wonder if his mum loved him -what are you doing here? You're mucking up my life. I can't stand it! (p5)- He asked others if they new the answer, afraid of his own answer becoming the hurtful truth.- "Does she love us?" "Christ I suppose so… I mean who's going to love you if your own mother doesn't?"(p60)- with more evidence guiding him towards his answer pain strikes him once more in the unfamiliar surroundings of Wattle Beach which is where he meets Joy Duncan. In many ways this is like the ospreys journey of pain and suffering, with its broken wing beginning it adventure, then finding its way, coincidentally, to Joy. - A ranger found him further up the island and bought him down to me. Damaged wing. Shotgun it looks like. (p75)- Joy seemed to notice and understand the wounds hurting Carl and the osprey, both physically and mentally. -he'll have to stay with me a little while yet. Give his wing time to recover properly (p75)During his stay at Wattle Beach, Carl receives help from his new found friends, Skip, Maddie, Joy and Justine. Coincidentally these were the same people that helped the osprey. Joy and Justine seemed to have the most influence on both Carl and the osprey. Joy helped Carl by being like a second mum to both him and his younger brother Harley, by showing Harley the love he should have had a long time ago- it's alright Harley we'll make another one" she said trying to best her smile(p131)- Joy was also like a mother to the osprey. She fed it, made a home for it and kept it safe. Justine was also significant to the change in Carl. She made him feel welcome, important, and special. Justine changed the way Carl felt about his body, telling him they were stupid for always covering their middle area with their "sausage fingers" or clothing. She always joked about her weight - aren't you going to charge me I take up more room than a truck. (pp199)- Justine was the first person to notice the progress in Carl's recovery. Not just physically but mentally. -I think Carl is losing padding, though. What do you think Maddie? (pp182)- He began to become louder and more ope, with confidence brewing inside him, he began to unravel the blanket covering him. -it would be a pity to miss the ospreys first flight(pp177)- both the osprey and Carl were making progress, opening up, ready for a new beginning, it was coming.

Carl and the osprey were able to free themselves from the horrible blanket that was covering their heads.-Carl was afraid to breathe. The weight of the bird and its piercing gaze was enough to freeze him here forever." Now Carl. Set it free." (pp193)- At this moment in the book both the osprey and Carl felt free at last. -My name is Carl Matt M-A-T-T…what do you think of that? (pp281)- Carl was free. Free of his worries, free of his fears. He could let go of his sorrowful past and be alive just like how the osprey let go of its painful past and began to fly once again. The way the osprey spreads it's wings and takes its first beat against the wind symbolizes the emotions rushing through Carl when he finds out his mum truly did love him and Harley.

The journey of the osprey mirrored Carl's personal life. Although both of these characters were different they shared the same life experiences. Together they recovered from their pain and suffering. Joy helped each of them free themselves, they, in a sense were one. Both were suffering as a result from others actions. Carl was hurt by his mothers choice to abandon every once in a while, even though it was only for a few days it still hurt him inside. The osprey was hurt by hunters. They received help from the same people, Joy and Justine, and they were freed with Joy as their witness. These are the little similarities that make the osprey significant to the novel.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Image, the wee hours of the morning, a ship sinking and its crew abandoning the vessel in a lifeboat with only the thought of survival, unware of what dangers await them in the darkness of the sea. Ironically this is the grim reality of the men in the story The Open Boat written by Stephen Crane. What makes this story interesting is the fact that Crane was actually a passenger on the Commodore when it sank. During this time in American history it seems to be several shipwrecks along the coast of Florida. For the author he witnessed one of these disasters first hand. Therefore, Crane wrote The Open Boat based on his account of what happened on the fatefully morning when the steamer Commodore sank.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The US Marine Raiders were formed in February 1942 as the Allied war in the Far East reached a difficult phase. The Marine Raiders were meant to replicate the work done by the British Commandos and other special forces units within the Pacific theatre of war. However, the Pacific presented its own unique problems and the Marine Raiders proved most useful when fighting alongside other regular units.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The literary works of two Canadian authors can often be place under a microscope where the similarities of their works become very apparent. The writing styles tend to have many aspects in common. The short story “Cornet at Night” by Sinclair Ross is very similar to “The Boat” by Alistair MacLeod. They are similar in not just one but in many ways. The two literary works share many aspects between them. These aspects extend over a wide variety of topics. These aspects are used by the authors in both short stories to help develop the plot and deepen the story. The most comparable of these aspects are the theme, setting and the diction that is used.…

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Charlotte changes in many ways on her voyage on the Seahawk. In the book The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, Charlotte Doyle changes greatly. Charlotte learns to stand up for herself in many ways. Furthermore, Charlotte does many daring things on her voyage to Rhode Island. Also, Charlotte learns to be tough. Charlotte Doyle changes in many ways threw out her voyage on the Seahawk.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    AP One Sheet

    • 2167 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Jack- “Inside the floating cloak he was tall, thin, and bony; and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of his face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger.”…

    • 2167 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In I Had Seen Castles, John says, “My room [disturbs] me. I [cannot] sleep in it without experiencing impossible anxiety. My father [moves] a rollaway bed into the music room downstairs, and there I [can] rest. Nightmares still [come]. But the room [is] easier” (Cynthia 92). In the quote, it is clear that John suffers soon after returning from the war. This mental anguish is in the forms of constant anxiety and nightmares: two signs of PTSD. Having PTSD is likely for John as the sights he has seen are horrific. However, PTSD is common in soldiers and can also be seen in “Soldier’s Home” when Krebs’s mother asks him if Krebs loves her and he says, “‘I don’t love anybody,’ Krebs said. […] He couldn’t tell her, he couldn’t make her see it” (Hemingway). From the quote, readers can conclude that Krebs refers “it” as his inability to love. In other words, Krebs isolates himself once he returned. However, this inability to love is apart of a much larger physiological issue; the isolation Krebs is experiencing is common symptom of PTSD. Despite having different symptoms, both soldiers experience PTSD in their own…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Hilliard trusts and knows that his sister Beth will understand his disturbances from the war that are giving him constant nightmares. He depended on her to relate to him, because know one else did, but he wouldn’t let anybody else in to his inner circle, “Beth, Beth. He had always gone to Beth.” Baths support for John was shown in a memory of when the two of them were swimming in the sea one summer holiday. Beth helped John overcome his fear of swimming out of his depth even though she was petrified herself of swimming all the way out to the open sea. Often, when he was much younger, john had slept on Beths bedroom floor for comfort and reassurance whenever he was feeling unhappy or scared. This was why John felt obliged to talk to Beth in the middle of the night before he went back to his battalion the next day, to let out his emotions because he knew she would understand. She asked if he was afraid to go back. “She was like all…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rena Kob's Imagery

    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Rena Korb has a master's degree in English literature and creative writing and has written for a wide variety of educational publishers. In the following essay, she discusses the imagery in "Children of the Sea."…

    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The first contrast we see however is between Ralph and Piggy. We are told Piggy is “very fat”, much fatter than Ralph and as “the naked crooks of his knees were plump” we also know piggy has to wear glasses, and is asthmatic we imagine Piggy to be the complete opposite of Ralph who appears to be healthy and an athletic child as we know he can swim. We see Ralph…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Following the tragic death of his father, Matthew was unable to bear the trauma inflicted upon his consciousness; this eventually caused him to be stricken with grief, madness, and dementia. His mind created false memories in an effort to replace the ones that were on the edge of destroying him; however, in time this did more harm to poor Matthew than good. The war struck down his father in an instant, and Matthew was heartbroken and traumatized enough he was struck down too, an indirect casualty of the raging war. His mother was left alone on this earth depressed and broken, the only piece left of a broken family created by the…

    • 1668 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Jack London Quotes

    • 1224 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Most people have experienced meeting a person that has irritating qualities at first but over time their perception changes about that person. In The Sea Wolf, the privileged intellectual, Humphrey (Hump) van Weyden meets the rugged Wolf Larsen, the captain of a seal-hunting schooner, in an unusual and undesirable way. After Hump’s ferry was hit by another boat and sank in the San Francisco Bay, he was rescued by Wolf. Wolf’s ship is on its way to Japan to find seals to hunt and even though Hump expects Wolf to return him to the shore, Wolf decides Hump needs to become a man and promptly makes Hump his cabin boy. Wolf is known for getting his way and because of his strong will and physical strength, he typically gets what he wants. On their way to Japan, the crew tries to commit mutiny but Wolf shows his true power by physically beating the men. Once things on the ship settle down again Maud Brewster comes aboard, after being rescued in a similar way Hump was rescued. Maud instantly got the attention of both Hump and Wolf because of her intellect. Wolf tries to focus on his ship, while Hump thinks he’s fallen in love. Wolf’s interest in Maud is revealed when Hum catches Wolf holding Maud against her will, causing Hump to depart from his intellectual ways and physically tries to kill Wolf. While Hump did not succeed in murdering Wolf, Wolf was…

    • 1224 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Forbidden City Quote Chart

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages

    -Dad’s “shoulders and head shook from the deep sobs that came from down inside him” “I realized how badly hurt he was, as badly as me” (Bell, 12)…

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Open Boat Heroism

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In “ The Open Boat” crane personifies elements in the nature as a factor which brings out the true human nature and test’s a person’s ability to survive, and work together rather than nature being an overwhelming destructive force. One does not have to end up being stranded on the open sea like the four men did to test their ability to survive, it exists in a variety of real world situation, but one has to see it as such. Although those situations may not require the same experience as the four men did.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Darion and his crew had been sailing for days trying to find the island of the sea queen. They needed her help and guidance to find the gold before the mad Captain Gray. Darion held his telescope to his eye for what felt like the hundredth time today. Looking through the glass, he skimmed over the horizon, praying for the sight of land. Finally, there is the distance he spotted an island. “Land ho!” he shouted to the crew. Several men ran to the side of the ship and pointed across to the island. Darion could hardly make out what they were pointing at, but with his telescope he had a clear view of the image. It was a stone castle standing tall and shadowing over the south coast of the small island. Darion hoped it was where they would find the mysterious and Sea Queen his father always spoke of.…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The significance of the Albatross in "The Ancient Mariner" has been left open to examination by the reader. The symbolism of the Albatross in Coleridge's poem is rather debatable. By looking at different interpretations, I will investigate whether Coleridge's Albatross is significant or not.…

    • 1021 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics