Re: A favourite chapter?


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Posted by Fred Boynton on March 19, 2006 at 18:07:07 from 63.21.124.86 user Voyager.

In Reply to: A favourite chapter? posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on March 19, 2006 at 01:08:30:

My favorite chapter is "Dutch Afternoon" in WDM. John is the eldest son in a military family in the early '30s; we know he will be a leader. When things get serious, he sides with "native" Susan; even Nancy is forced to yield when John and Susan are agreed. I think he is the lead character in the canon. Probably nothing is as hard on him personally as being blamed for something he hasn't done, yet he does the "right thing" when he tries to deliver the charcoal burners' message to Capt. Flint in spite of CF's message left in the camp and the subsequent pact with the Amazons. Being rebuffed by CF while trying to deliver the message only adds to his chagrin ("He called me a liar..."). He handles that philosophically alone at the lookout place ("The hills had been there before Captain Flint. They would be there forever.")and physically by swimming around the island ("The day was a good day after all, in spite of Captain Flint.")

Then on the Goblin, after correctly figuring out why the anchor was dragging, though losing the anchor rode overboard (no story without that), he makes the correct choices time after time, in spite of having to diagree with Susan on what to do. "A lot of things were lucky," said Daddy. ..."You'll be a seaman yet, my son." John's path toward adulthood is confirmed. The unasked question "How am I doing in life?" is answered in the affirmative.

In CC Tom's father sympathises with him for casting the Margoletta adrift (again, no story without that), but he can't praise him for doing it. Beyond that, however, Tom exhibits the same leadership characteristics as John, and in the CC/BS mini-canon, he is the lead character.

In this "Fathers and Sons" category it's too bad we don't get a chapter on Dick and his Father. Would it be correct to suggest that of the three this relationship is most like that of AR and his father?


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