Analyse af den irske novelle 'The Whaler'

In this short Irish story called “The Whaler”, we meet an unnamed young boy and a former whaler, who is called the Whaler. He is called the Whaler, because he had in his best days of his life, he had been a whaler, and therefore the boy sees up to the Whaler. The first time he meets the Whaler, he sees the Whaler as God for him, a Hercules, who can kill all whale. The size doesn’t matter.

Later, the Whaler tells this young boy, that he never have been a Whaler. It can be read here: Line 69: “I never saw a whale in my life.”

It was just some rumours about him, because he is a small, myopic man. The town sees the Whaler as their eccentric.

After that, the boy loses his respect for the Whaler, but the boy gets it back. The Whaler tells the boy a secret. Eileen Early and the Whaler’s had a covert relationship. It can be read here: Line 128: “Many a good ride I had from her…” It’s reveals also, that the Whaler has humour.

The boy is a clever one, so he realizes that the Whaler is just an old drinker with no life. Later, the Whaler hangs himself from the roof of a byre.