37 pages • 1 hour read
The Young Man and the Sea
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Symbols & Motifs
The Mary Rose and the Skiff
Skiff and Skiff Sr.’s fishing boat, the Mary Rose, is named after Skiff’s deceased mother. At the beginning of The Young Man and the Sea, the Mary Rose sinks, and sports a broken engine and rotten planks. While repair is possible, it would be costly—so Skiff Sr. doesn’t think it’s worth pursuing. The Mary Rose symbolizes Skiff’s mother, its sinking and disrepair mirroring Skiff Sr.’s depression in particular. Without her physical presence, the family is left grieving. However, Skiff believes anything broken can be fixed, that his father can heal from their shared loss. He works hard to raise the money needed to fix the Mary Rose, setting lobster traps and later harpooning a giant bluefin tuna. He also inspires his father to leave the house and pursue sobriety. After selling his tuna, Skiff repairs the Mary Rose, symbolizing his and his father’s healing process: This doesn’t mean they no longer miss Mary Rose, but they’ve managed to move on while honoring her memory.
Skiff’s skiff is a small wooden boat built by his father; it’s not a proper fishing boat, but sports a motor. Both Skiff and Skiff Sr. are named Samuel but use the nickname “Skiff” to mirror the hardy nature of these small boats. Compared to the Mary Rose and other boats, Skiff’s boat seems lackluster in size and equipment; however, Skiff knows it’s sturdy. Likewise, he struggles to reconnect with his father—who neglects him due to depression—and they aren’t particularly wealthy; however, this doesn’t mean they’re inferior or unable to recover from loss. Skiff proves his boat can catch bluefin tuna: By embracing the humble skiff and Mr. Woodwell’s harpoon, both built by his father, he demonstrates loyalty to family.
The Bluefin Tuna
The bluefin tuna is a valuable fish that can be caught off the coast of Maine, especially during the summer. Whereas Skiff would have to work all summer catching lobsters to make enough money to repair the Mary Rose, he can make the same amount with one tuna. Thus, it symbolizes Skiff’s ambition to change his and his father’s lives. To Skiff, it represents a new engine for the Mary Rose, a new bicycle for himself, and a new start for his father. He believes if he catches one tuna, all of his problems will be solved. In this sense, the tuna’s size mirrors its metaphorical significance.
Fog and Sunlight
Fog functions as a literal and symbolic obstacle to Skiff, whereas sunlight symbolizes his resilience in overcoming such obstacles. When he goes fishing for bluefin tuna, the fog almost makes it impossible to navigate. This puts him at risk of getting lost or being hit by another boat. However, as with all obstacles, Skiff calms down and reasons with himself, as he can see well enough to harpoon. The fog is temporary, while the sun rises and sets as it always does, its light allowing him to see well enough to succeed in his mission.
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