Letters From The Samantha :: essays research papers

An kindle short story is "Letters from The Samantha" by Mark Helpin. This story tells the gripping tale, in the form of never sent letters, of an imitate brought aboard an iron-hulled water travel ship in 1909 by Samson grim, the ships captain. Although the rootage makes a point to tell the reader, through Samson rootage gear, that the animal does not symbolize anything or mean anything, in fact, "He stands for nothing" (280), several(prenominal) arguments can be made to contradict this. One could argue that the ape symbolized the untamed and rarely used wild side of Samson Low through a comparison of their personalities, appearances, and the way they are treated by others. Samson Low was a captain of a ship have by the Green Star Line. He is a stickler for rules and the proper ordinance of conduct. When writing to his company, he reminds them of "the complete absence of disciplinary action against me" (271). This serves to bring out that he has n ever been in trouble or broken the rules. He is comfortable and comforted by his pattern of obedience and thinks others must be as well "Though my subordinates some ms complain, they are grateful no doubt, for my firm rule and tidiness" (271). His ship is always on time or even ahead of schedule. The picture painted is of a steady, reliable, mercenary 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 completely taken up by such a thing, to be lifted into the clouds" (272). This is hardly the fantasy of a truly buttoned-down man. He also imagines surrendering to the seas, "But I have not, and will not." (272). While he seems content with his life, Samson Lows secret yearnings sometimes show through. It is because of this Samson seems jealous of the ape and the things it has experienced. Samson has only dreamed while the ape has actually lived. The ape, when first aboard, climbs the rigging to the highest point from there he has a total flock of the ship below and all that goes on much like a "pharaonic" captain would do. While in the rigging the ape shrieks and hollers terrorization the crew until the captain climbs up to it.