The Cay,by Theodore Taylor
3rd February1997
Author
Theodore Taylor is an American writer who
also makes documentary films. His inspiration to write ³The Cay² came from his
research into German submarines that fought in the Second World War. He is now
married with three children and lives in California.
Setting
This novel is set in the 1940¹s on a small
island, called a ³cay², in the Caribbean Sea. German U-boats are constantly
submerged in the vicinity of the island and Williamsted, Phillip¹s home, which
is a Dutch colonised island.
Theme
One of the main themes in this novel is
racism. Phillip sees Negroes in the same way as his mother despises them.
Phillip likes the black peoples¹ accents and the way they throw fruit at them
from their boats . His friends like them too, but for some reason his mother thinks
they are dirty and unpleasant. Throughout the novel Phillip begins to recognise that Negroes are ordinary people
who should have the same rights as whites and he decides to ignore his mother¹s predujices and
respect the people with dignity.
Plot
Phillip lives in Williamsted with his
mother and father.They had lived in the United States but they moved there when
Phillip¹s father was offered a job in an oil refinery nearby. Williamsted is
very quaint and the harbour is always full of black people on their fishing
boats, called schooners. One day a German U-boat is spotted near the harbour.
The whole harbour is on edge . When everyone
calms down, the first tanker in a week sets sail with gallons of crude oil
on board. The whole population is shocked when the tanker blows into pieces and
scatters shrapnel all over the sea.
Phillip¹s mother becomes anxious and she brings Phillip on a small cargo ship
back to Central America. Phillip¹s father thinks that they will be alright. The
ship is torpedoed the next morning, and when Phillip awakes he finds himself on
a raft.
Phillip had been unconscious for several
hours and now he is out in the middle of the sea with an ugly black man, and no
mother. The Negroe¹s name is Timothy, he is old but very strong. Phillip goes
to sleep and when he awakes he finds that he is unable to see, he is blind.
Phillip thinks that Timothy is strict when he would not give him any
water but he
realises that Timothy is sensible with the rations and he decides to make friends
with him. The island is deserted and it is surrounded by a coral reef, the only
way people would notice them is by air . So, Timothy sets to work and he builds
a hut and a bonfire which they could light if they heard an aircraft
approaching. Timothy fishes in the pools and on some days he would even catch
lobster.
Weeks pass and not a single aeroplane flies
over their heads. Timothy catches a fever and his life is in danger. Phillip
nurses him back to health but he will never regain his full strength. Timothy
realises that he will not be around for much longer and he shows Phillip how to
move about the island with the use of vines as guidelines. Phillip learns
quickly and soon he is able to fish unaided.Timothy and Phillip This story is
about Phillip¹s blind fight for survival all alone when he is faced with
Timothy¹s death.
Characters
The characters develop very well through
this novel.We are given an good insight into
Phillip¹s background by the way he behaves and feels towards a Negro.Phillip
is quite spoilt at home and he cannot fend for himself.This changes though when
he becomes friends with Timothy, who is both physically and mentally stronger
than him.Timothy shows him how survive and not to panic when they are in
trouble,but to think everything out clearly and try to resolve the problem.
Mood
The mood in this story is one of fear for
Phillip but maybe hope for Timothy. When Phillip realises that their chances of
being rescued are slim he becomes afraid and anxious of being left on the cay
forever.Timothy is old and he knows it. His life is coming to an end and he
fears that he will leave Phillip on the island by himself and that he will not
be able to cope.
Personal
response
This novel shows that black people are friendly
and considerate and not dirty and abuseful as Phillip¹s mother sees them.It
also displays the fare and hardship in the times of the Second World War.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I thought
that the plot was very good.Just one afterthought though ,and that is that I
wished it was longer.
The language in the book is fairly straight
forward and so is the story so I would only recommend it for a 12-13 age
group.Though nearly anyone older than that could enjoy it as a short story.
Overall I would
give this novel ......7 out of 10.
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