Letters From The Samantha :: essays research papers

An interesting short story is "Letters from The Samantha" by Mark Helpin. This story tells the fascinating tale, in the form of never sent letters, of an ape brought alongside an iron-hulled sailing ship in 1909 by Samson lowly, the ships captain. Although the author makes a point to tell the reader, through Samson Low, that the animal does non symbolize anything or mean anything, in fact, "He stands for nothing" (280), several arguments can be made to contradict this. One could argue that the ape symbolized the waste 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 owned by the Green Star Line. He is a stickler for rules and the proper code of conduct. When writing to his company, he reminds them of "the murder absence of disciplinary action against me" (271). This serves to highlight that he has never been in trouble or broken the rules. He is comfortable and comforted by his convening of obedience and thinks others must be as well "Though my subordinates sometimes complain, they are grateful no doubt, for my firm rule and tidiness" (271). His ship is forever on time or even ahead of schedule. The picture painted is of a steady, reliable, conservative 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 cod wished to be completely taken up by such a thing, to be lifted into the clouds" (272). This is hardly the thought 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 w hile the ape has actu altogethery lived. The ape, when first aboard, climbs the rigging to the highest point from there he has a total view 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 frightening the crew until the captain climbs up to it.