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Summary Of A Secret Lost In The Water Symbolism

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Symbolism is a way to convey deeper meanings or themes in literature and art, allowing for nuanced communication and interpretation. Used to grow the story's depth, symbols allow readers to decipher the story through personal perspective. The two short stories, "The Boat" by Alistair Macleod and "A Secret Lost in the Water," by Roch Carrier, both use symbolism in a way that elevates the motifs presented throughout their narrative. Being that a legacy is changed by an individual's choices for their own future, these choices can be directly influenced by recurring symbols and their meanings. From what the impact that these symbols hold towards one's choices, we find that an individual may feel chained down to moral obligation, or that it reassures …show more content…

While both use symbolism as a literary device used to enhance the story, they contrast drastically. The symbol of the boat holds the meaning of family. It symbolizes the protagonist and his family. While the alder branch in ‘A Secret Lost in the Water’ forges two pathways for the narrator. The narrator in the boat had been pushed to become a professor. Only choosing to pursue this after his father's death. The narrator's father had chains which shackled him in that small fishing village, and had forcibly destroyed them in order for his son's free will. Described as lying there with the brass chains on his wrists and the seaweed in his hair. Facing the choice of one's own desire and another's desire, struggled to support the narrator's will for independence. The boat had seemingly symbolized the world for this family and had symbolized their detachment as well. Whereas the alder branch spread out different options for the narrator, lacking chains and obligation. Opening the eyes of the narrator to what he can find. While symbolism in the boat largely reflects family, heritage and relationships, we find that the alder branch in a secret lost in the water symbolizes freedom of choice and two pathways created. Having one be clearly directed to shifting responsibility among generations, while the other signifies the freedom of choice. Both became what they had desired, one built a future from gaining knowledge, and the other lost knowledge in order to gain a

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