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Hayley Gadol

Mrs. Sarich

AP Literature

2 May 2011

Un“Quoyle”ing the Intricacies of The Shipping News

Title, Author, Publication Date, Genre

The Shipping News is a novel by Annie Proulx published in 1993.

Biographical Info/Historical Info/ Genre Info

Annie Proulx was born in Norwich, Connecticut in 1935 and was the oldest of five

children. Her grandfather came to America from Quebec Canada. She attended Colby College in

Maine and the University of Vermont for her bachelor’s degree and gained her master’s degree

from Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Canada. Proulx spent her time fishing,

hunting, and canoeing in Vermont ("E. Annie Proulx”). Her father’s emigration to the United

States from a Canada, a country similar to Newfoundland in climate and her extensive experience

with nature and a cold climate, as illustrated by her attending colleges in Maine, Vermont and

Canada most likely influenced her to write The Shipping News.

The most important historical event around the time of the publication of The Shipping

News was the end of the Cold War in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall (Black). The tale

Canada’s growlingly extensive control of Newfoundland’s industry, which eventually led to the

creation of The Gammy Bird in the novel, may parallel the Soviet Union’s domination of smaller

countries in Eastern Europe. Additionally, the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 had a large impact

on Alaska’s commercial fishing industry (“Office of Exxon Valdez”). Similarly, the fishing

industry of Newfoundland was affected in the novel but for different reasons.

The Shipping News is a novel. The definition of a novel is “an invented prose narrative
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that is usually long and complex and deals especially with human experience through a usually

connected sequence of events” (“Novel”). All of these factors are illustrated in The Shipping

News; the novel is over three hundred pages, deals with Quoyle’s experiences which all humans

can relate to and involves a storyline with a series of related events. Specifically, the novel is a

bildungsroman; Quoyle is able to grow after he moves away from his home in New York.

Summary

The Shipping News begins with a description of the main character, Quoyle, who lives in

New York. His family feels he is unintelligent and will not amount to anything in life. Quoyle

works at a newspaper called the Mockingburg Record where he is constantly being fired and

rehired. Additionally, he marries Petal Bear who he has two children with, Bunny and Sunshine,

and who cheats on him often. After the death of Petal Bear in a car accident, Quoyle decides it is

time to travel to Newfoundland to discover his family roots with his feisty aunt and her dog,

Warren who is later revealed to be named after the aunt’s late sexual partner, Irene Warren.

Quoyle is forced to brave a very harsh storm before finally arriving to his family’s old

house in Quoyle’s Point, Newfoundland. The Aunt calls Dennis Buggit to repair their house.

Thanks to his old friend Partridge, Quoyle starts working at The Gammy Bird, a newspaper with

an interesting history. While working there, he is forced to conquer his fears when he is assigned

the shipping news and car accident columns. There, he also meets Jack Buggit, Dennis’s father

who he has a troubled past involving drowning with, Billy Pretty, Nutbeem and Tert Card.

Quoyle even meets Wavey, another widow whose child has Down’s syndrome. Throughout the

novel, the two gradually grow closer while the pains of their prior losses diminish.

Quoyle hears from Billy Pretty that he still has a relative in the country named Nolan.

Nolan makes his presence known throughout the novel by placing various knots of rope around

Quoyle’s house and his family. Quoyle is successful for the first time when he saves Bunny’s
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life. His successes continue to grow in number when Quoyle thinks of a good idea for his

shipping news column in the newspaper. One day, Quoyle’s boat that he had bought earlier to

make it easier to travel to work, the buying of which involved Quoyle to overcome his fear of

water, is capsized and he finds Bayonet Melville’s head. Melville was known to be abused by his

spouse. It is revealed later that Nolan raped the aunt when she was a child. At the end of the

novel, Jack Buggit almost dies of drowning. Eventually, Wavey and Quoyle get married.

Author’s Style:

One of the distinguishing factors of the novel is Proulx’s use of unconventional similes.

For example, Proulx compares objects unpredictably to eels multiple times throughout the novel.

Ed Punch is described “like an eel [going] into the rock” when slipping into his office early in the

morning (Proulx 6).

Another literary device of great importance in the novel is the epigraph, which is a phrase

or quote at the beginning of a document. Proulx uses epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter

to give the reader an idea about important characters or events of the chapter. Proulx begins the

third chapter with a description of the strangle knot. “The strangle knot will hold a coil well… It

is first tied loosely and then worked snug” (Proulx 18). This knot perfectly describes Quoyle’s

relationship with Petal Bear; at first she has relatively little control over him but over time she

begins to have an influence over every aspect of Quoyle’s life, even after her death.

Additionally, Proulx uses imagery to further the experience of reading the novel to

enhance the reader’s reading experience. For example, the twentieth chapter begins with “Quoyle

in Billy Pretty’s skiff. The old man hopped aboard nimbly, set a plastic bag under the seat and

yanked the rope. The engine started-waaah-like a trumpet. A blare of wake spilled out behind

them. Billy plunged around in a plywood box, dug out a tan plastic contraption, propped it in a

corner, sat down and leaned back” (Proulx 160). This imagery creates a contrast with the faster
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pace in which most of the novel is written and appeals to the reader’s senses.

Memorable Quotes:

““Lardass, Snotface, Ugly Pig, Warthog, Stupid, Stinkbomb, Fart-tub, Greasebag,” (Proulx 2)

Dick, Quoyle’s brother, fires these insults at Quoyle at the beginning of the novel. These

insults are important because they give the reader an exposition of how others view Quoyle. The

reader’s initial impression of Quoyle is that he is ugly and useless in society.

“No, Bunny. She’s gone to sleep. She’s in heaven. Remember, I told you?” (Proulx 45)

This quote is said by Quoyle to Bunny while the family is traveling to Quoyle’s point

after reaching Newfoundland. This quote is important because it relays one of the important

themes of the novel concerning death and the impossible. As evidence the bird flies after

breaking its neck, it is possible for anything to happen. However, this quote is ironic because

Petal Bear is, in fact, dead.

“There [are] four women in every man’s heart. The Maid in the Meadow, the Demon Lover, the

Stouthearted Woman, the Tall and Quiet Woman” (Proulx 171)

“A good fisherman but lives very poor. Keeps to himself. I doubt he can read or write. He’s one

of your crowd, some kind of fork kin from the old days.” (Proulx 161).

This is how Billy Pretty describes Nolan, Quoyle’s cousin. This quote is important

because it is the first time the reader is introduced to Nolan, who is immediately described as

some sort of savage. It is also important to note that Billy Pretty tells Quoyle, “He’s one of your

crowd.” This implies that people of the town believe all of the Quoyles are savages like Nolan.

This is said by Billy Pretty to Quoyle. This quote is especially important because it

summarizes all of the women in Quoyle’s life. Bunny is “the maid in the meadow,” Petal Bear is

“the demon lover,” the aunt is “the stouthearted woman” and Wavey is “the tall and quiet

woman.”
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““It flew away.” (Proulx 336)

This quote is said by Bunny at the very end of the novel. This is what Bunny assumes

happens to the bird. Naturally, the reader is skeptical and believes that it has most likely been

washed away or eaten. However, the novel ends with an optimistic passage that basically says

anything is possible. This tells the reader that, while it is unlikely that the bird flew away, it is

important to believe that improbable does not mean impossible.

Characters:

Quoyle is the protagonist of the novel. He begins as someone whose own father saw

“failures multiply like an explosion of virulent cells” (Proulx 2). However, as the novel

progresses, Quoyle transforms into a successful, confident man. Quoyle himself symbolizes the

journey that every man has to go through in life but in a hyperbolized way.

The aunt is one of the most central characters who contribute to Quoyle’s transformation.

If it were not for her, Quoyle would have never been able to go to Newfoundland.

Metaphorically, she is “the Stouthearted Woman” (Proulx 171) of the four women described by

Billy Pretty. Additionally, her purpose is to show the reader Proulx’s view that homosexual

relationships are not taboo, as much of society believes they are, through her relationship with

Irene Warren.

Bunny and Sunshine are Quoyle’s two daughters. Both give Quoyle motivation because

he needs to be successful in order to take care of them. Bunny’s has an especially important role

in Quoyle’s first success, which leads to his successes growing like “virulent cells” as his failures

had before. Quoyle had to catch Bunny after falling off of the roof. “He could not believe she

hadn’t fallen, for in two or three seconds he had lived her squalling death over and over, reached

out time after time to grip empty air” (Proulx 107). Bunny serves as “the maid in the meadow”

(Proulx 171).
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Petal Bear is another character who is very important for Quoyle’s transformation. Petal

Bear is Quoyle’s deceased wife. She had a relationship with him that can be compared to a

“strangle knot [which] hold[s] a coil well” (Proulx 18). In order for Quoyle’s transformation to

be complete, he must stop grieving over his late wife who has only caused him pain. She serves

as “the Demon Lover” (Proulx 171).

Wavey has a child with Down’s syndrome. Wavey is “The tall and quiet woman” (Proulx

171) that Billy Pretty describes. In the end, Quoyle’s transformation is complete when he marries

Wavey. This marriage shows that both Quoyle and Wavey are finished grieving over their late

spouses.

Partridge is Quoyle’s only friend in New York. Partridge is the first to help Quoyle on his

quest for success. Partridge advises Quoyle to “rub the ink with hot salt and talcum powder. Then

wash them again, put a cup of bleach in” (Proulx 4) after spilling ink on his shirts at the

Laundromat and secures him his job in Newfoundland. Partridge is a foil to Quoyle’s original

characterization.

Nolan is Quoyle’s only relative living in Newfoundland after all of his other family

members have left for the United States. Nolan is one of the antagonists of the novel. He owns

the white dog that Bunny is afraid of and warns them of his threats through the use of “lengths of

knotted twine on the threshold of each room” (Proulx 263) of the house.

Billy Pretty, Tert Card, Nutbeem and Jack Buggit are Quoyle’s coworkers at The Gammy

Bird. Each plays an important role in the novel and some even have their own subplots. For

example, Buggit has problems with his son Dennis Buggit due to the death of Jesson Buggit by

drowning. Also, Billy Pretty is the one who explains to Quoyle about the four women, “The

Maid in the Meadow, the Demon Lover, the Stouthearted Woman, the Tall and Quiet Woman”

(Proulx 171).
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Setting and Significance:

The novel begins in “Mockingburg, New York” (Proulx 2) while the majority of the

novel takes place in “Newfoundland, the rock that had generated his ancestors” (Proulx 1). It is

also known that the novel takes place in the early 1990s because the reader is exposed to a

current newspaper article from The Gammy Bird about a criminal’s sexual assaults from “May

1978 to July 1991” (Proulx 287). The novels initial New York setting is a stark contrast with the

Newfoundland setting of the rest of the novel. This is to reinforce the contrast between Quoyle’s

initial characterization and his final characterization at the end of the novel. Newfoundland,

unlike New York, is cold, has very little industry and has a very low population. The name of the

setting itself is perfect because Quoyle is literally “newly finding” himself in Newfoundland. He

figures out his purpose in life and no longer considers himself a failure after spending time in

Newfoundland.

Symbols and Allusions:

One of the most prominent symbols in the novel is Quoyle’s name. The epigraph on the

first page of the novel explains how the name Quoyle is really the word “coil” but spelled

differently. Additionally, it is explained that a “Flemish flake is a spiral coil of one layer only. It

is made on deck, so that it may be walked on if necessary” (Proulx 1). This represents Quoyle’s

characterization as it initially appears to the reader. Quoyle seems to be unintelligent, hence his

“one layer.” “Walked on” is a common idiom for being taken advantage of, which Quoyle is at

the beginning of the novel by The Mockingburg Record workers and Petal Bear.

Another symbol is the house in Quoyle’s point. The House is described as having “holes

and weak spots” that were supposed to be fixed up throughout the novel (Proulx 100). The house

symbolizes Quoyle’s familial foundation. Throughout his life, he has had an unstable family

including a grandparent who get killed sealing and a father who was dissatisfied with his son.
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The house is never completely fixed up and is eventually simply destroyed. This symbolizes

Quoyle starting his life over with his new family, including his new wife Wavey.

Silver is also an important symbol in The Shipping News. Silver symbolizes abuse

throughout the novel. Petal is often referred to as silver, including her eyes which are “silvery in

Sunday light” (Proulx 16). Addtionally, Bayonet Mayville is decapitated, presumably by his wife

named Silver, who he had been fighting with him earlier.

An important allusion throughout the novel is one to the Ashley Book of Knots. Many of

the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter are from this book. These epigraphs often

symbolize or foreshadow important events of that chapter. For example, the thirteenth chapter

begins with an excerpt from the Ashley Book of Knots; “A cringle will make an excellent

emergency handle for a suitcase” (Proulx 112). In chapter thirteen, the reader first meets Silver

and Bayonet Melville. Bayonet Melville’s head is later found by Quoyle in a suitcase.

Another less prevalent allusion that serves a similar purpose as the Ashley Book of Knots

allusion is that to The Mariner’s Dictionary. For example, chapter seventeen begins with a

definition of cousin, which is “a favored person aboard ship” (Proulx 141). This is meant to be

ironic because Quoyle’s cousin Nolan causes Quoyle a lot of trouble throughout the novel.

Opening and Concluding Scenes:

The novel begins with describing Quoyle’s life before the real beginning of the novel.

“Hive-spangled, gut roaring with gas and cramp, he survived childhood; at the state university,

hand clapped over his chin, he camouflaged torment with smiles and silence. Stumbled

through… life counting on nothing. He ate prodigiously, liked a ham knuckle, buttered spuds”

(Proulx 1). This is done in order to give the reader an idea of how uneventful and futile Quoyle’s

childhood has been.

The closing scene of the novel contains the quote “if Jack Buggit could escape from the
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pickle jar, if a bird with a broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible?” (Proulx

336). This creates a stark contrast with the beginning of the novel. At the beginning of the novel,

the reader believes Quoyle is incapable of accomplishing anything significant whereas at the end

of the novel the reader believes anything is possible.

Another important thing to note is that the novel starts with a large picture of a coil of

rope and ends with a large picture of a knot. The coil had been previously described as one-

layered to symbolize Quoyle’s incapability of deep thought whereas the knot has many layers to

symbolize Quoyle’s transformation.

Syntax:

The following is a passage that displays some of the typical syntax of the novel; Quoyle

says, “We’ve got air mattresses, we’ve got sleeping bags. We blow up the air mattresses and fold

down the backseat and spread them out, put the sleeping bags on them and there you are, two

nice comfortable beds” (Proulx 39). This passage is filled with improper grammar, such as

misplaced commas and contains a loose sentence, a sentence in which a main independent clause

is followed by dependent phrases or clauses. Both of these techniques are employed to give the

reader the impression that Quoyle is simple-minded.

Themes:

One theme of the novel is that concerning the limits of man. According to Proulx,

anything is possible. This theme supported through the transformation of Quoyle from a

metaphorically “great damp loaf of a body” (Proulx 2) into a functional human being with a

happy family and Jack Buggit’s surviving after almost drowning. The bird with the broken neck

that eventually flies away also symbolizes this theme.

Another theme is that of the importance of women in a man’s life. Billy pretty sums it up

nicely, “There [are] four women in every man’s heart. The Maid in the Meadow, the Demon
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Lover, the Stouthearted Woman, the Tall and Quiet Woman” (Proulx 171). Each woman in

Quoyle’s life has a profound impact on him. For example, Petal Bear, who symbolizes the

“Demon Lover” ruins Quoyle’s life, Bunny “the Maid in the Meadow” helps Quoyle realize that

he is capable of succeeding in life.

Thirdly, the novel displays the theme that all people are greater than their initial potential.

Quoyle comes from a family described as “wild and inbred, half-wits and murderers” (Proulx

162)by the people of Newfoundland. Of his entire dysfunctional family, Quoyle seems to be the

one with the least intelligence and worst looks. However, Quoyle eventually becomes the

managing editor of The Gammy Bird, gets married and lives a normal life. The bird who flies

with the broken neck can symbolize Quoyle’s transformation into a normal, functional human-

being.

Another important theme of the novel is that one must conquer his fears. At the start of

the novel, Quoyle is seen as unintelligent with no potential. However, is forced to face his fears

at when he begins working at The Gammy Bird and is forced to “cover local car wrecks,” (Proulx

69) which he is terrified of due to the death of his wife in a car accident, and “the shipping

news,” (Proulx 31) which is also a problem because he is afraid of water due to traumatic

experiences as a child. After Quoyle faces his fears, he begins to see that he is capable of success.

Lastly, a somewhat less prominent theme of the novel is that of the equality of all

relationships. This is shown through Proulx’s matter-of-fact way of mentioning the aunt’s

homosexuality. The aunt thinks to herself, “Irene Warren. How I miss you. Always will” (Proulx

98). The fact that the aunt’s dog’s name is Warren shows that the aunt has a very special

relationship with Irene. However, it is interesting that the aunt never tells Quoyle that Irene is a

woman. This shows that Proulx believes it does not matter whether one is homosexual or

heterosexual.
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Works Cited

Black, Allida. ""Cold War"." nps.gov. N.p., 2003. Web. 1 May 2011.

"E. Annie Proulx Biography." notablebiographies.com. Advameg, 2011. Web. 1 May 2011.

"Office of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Damage Assessment and Restoration ."

fakr.noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries, 1994. Web. 1 May 2011.

"Novel." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. Springfield, MA : Merriam-

Webster, Inc., Web. 1 May 2011.

Proulx, Annie. The Shipping News. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1993. Print.