What I take for granted

The thing that the thing I take for granted the most would be my parents. The reason that I would say them is because for a large portion of my life they are constantly buying me clothes and food and paying for everything thing that I do. The worst part is I don't every do anything back for them all I do is take more if there money. My parents allow us to take there car wherever and whenever we want without even asking and that's not right. They give me so much freedom to do what ever I want. 

100 billion dollars

If I were to have 100 billion dollars I would build a dream house for my self and give my parents a new house, to go along with my dream house of course I would have to buy the nicest cars in the world. I would pay off all my parents debts and give them 5 billion dollars of spending money, I would also give my brothers and sister 1 billion dollars each. I would donate 10 billion dollars to local charities for family in need. Since I will have a lot of money left over I would backpack around the world and visit the most famous places and meet famous people. With this left over money that I would have at the end I would invest 3/4 of it so this way I am making more money off of it, with this investment money I would invest in business so that I would always be making money so there is no chance of going broke.

The Boat

The Boat Analysis

By: Ricky Bissett

What are some elements in the story and what do they symbolize? What is the greater meaning?

    The boat symbolizes duty, imprisonment and necessity. Usually a boat would symbolize a means of transportation, but in the case of The Boat, it’s to keep those who work on it trapped. In his youth the father’s desire to attend university but this was prevented. Perhaps could be by his parents due to expectation that as an only son he would carry of the fishing tradition. In his later years he is tied to life on a boat due to responsibility and what his wife wanted.

    Another example is books, in The Boat the books symbolize education and escaping from the world of imprisonment. The father read books to live a life that he wanted to live, not the one he had. His dreams came alive through the pages of books he read. But for the children and narrator the books they read did the opposite. The books motivated them to leave the village.

    I believe the narrator is trying to tell you that you should always do what YOU want to do, and not to do something you don't want to do because somebody else wants you to do it.  You don’t want to live a life of imprisonment.

What is the narrator's point of view? How does it change?

In the beginning of The Boat the narrator is portrayed as a sea lover and that is essential to his lifestyle. This changes when the narrator learns that there is more to life than just the sea. He learns this from his father in the way that he used to escape from the reality of his life, books. The father makes comments in the story that indicate that he should pursue his education and follow a different lifestyle. By the end of the story the narrator seems to be  depressed. The mother lives alone and “looks upon the sea with love and on you with bitterness”, and the father ends up destroyed by the very thing that controlled his life. And in the future he find himself unhappy with his job and the life he is living.

Who is the protagonist? What do the traits of him/her have to do with the conflict?

The protagonist is the father, he is a fisherman who would have preferred an education rather than the dangerous lifestyle of a fisherman. He is a selfish man. He spends all of his time on the boat, or in his bedroom escaping from reality. He ignores his wife, and any conflict that arises with the daughters, for example, he doesn't help his wife parent their children.The only time he is happy is when he gets to escape the normal which is when he is reading or when he gets the tourist company. He is happy to have the company of the tourists because it is another form of escape, but with social interactions.

The main conflict from The Boat is the fact that the mother and the father have different opinions on how life should be spent. The mother doesn't want her family to escape the life of the sea or meet the outside world and does not believe in education. As the narrator grows up he wants to study but realizes he also has a love for the sea and is torn between the two.  

How does the setting affect the story?

The location of The Boat is along the East coast of Canada around the 1940’s. This would suggest that it would be a harsh lifestyle. Waking up early in the morning to go be damp and unhappy all day long on a boat, then returning to your family late in the day. It shows the sadness that the story portrays for you barely get to be with your family or do something you enjoy.

Mother Sketch

If there is one person that has changed my life in many ways it would be my mother. When ever I have asked her to do something for me she would such as drive me to friends houses and sign me up for activities. My mom was always supporting me with everything thing I did she always backed me up to. Sometimes I just think about what my mom has done for me and I realize that without her I wouldn't be the same today as I would be without her. I wish at times I could go back and thank her for the things she has done for me. My mom is a kind, loving and compassionate person who has always thought me right from wrong. My mom has thought me a lot of important life lessons such as don't do drugs and be a good kid, I believe that her saying these things has made me a better person.In the end I would like to thank my mom for the huge impact she has had on me and my life.