The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger by William Sibbald

Exposition

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:18:32 UTC

Sebastian Junger chooses to start the tale just before the action. This allows him to follow the standard formula and provide exposition before the crew sets sail. He takes the opportunity to develop and show the people involved in the story, and he also establishes his other purpose of explaining the history and systems of the fishing industry. Junger explains common protocols and actions within the industry, and then he illustrates how the crew of the Andrea Gail follow those same patterns. This exposition sets up the audience, who may be aware of the industry but not its inner workings, to grow a connection with the people and understand the events of the trip.

Definition #1

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:18:59 UTC

Junger hopes to accurately portray both the events of the storm and the nature of the fishing industry in this novel. However, the industry also remains greatly unknown to many. They might understand the concepts of fishing from ships and have heard of overfishing, but they likely do not know every part of them. Therefore, he has to begin from the basics and establish the nature of the industry itself. From there, he can delve deeper into the specific terms they use and how the operation is run. Therefore, the audience can begin with little to no knowledge about fishing and still understand the flow of the book.

Point of View

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:19:27 UTC

Junger chooses to use a third person limited point of view because it allows him to describe the entire scene. The book is not only about the individual characters, but it is also about the environment of the storm, ship, and histories. His choice to broaden away from the current situation and instead focus on the history of the industry is better explainable when the narrator seems to have no direct connection to the story otherwise as well. This point of view does still allow him to focus on the characters, their traits, and their moods, but he is not tied to their perspective or specific views. Further, the story is a retelling of a true event, so he can stick closer to the facts when not involved with the characters.

Hyperbole

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:19:50 UTC

Sebastian chooses to exaggerate the true extent of the effect in order to show how strong it truly is. While it may not propagate “almost forever,” or affect “just about every life form” in the region, they do reach a vast area. A straight distance may be difficult for a reader to gauge, so he instead illuminates the range by placing emphasis on how it almost seems to go on forever. Further, he is still able to connect it to the story, mentioning the Andrea Gail itself, and provide real reasoning by mentioning the fact that the machinery travels so far due to being underwater. Thus, the reader can understand the effectiveness of the technology with no room for confusion.

Historical Context

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:20:18 UTC

Junger now dives back into the history of the industry to help educate the readers. He has told about the ship and the crew and the modern area of Gloucester, so he can also build up the historical background. The book covers a dual purpose, telling both the story of the storm and the ships caught in it and the history behind the fishing industry and how it has reached the point it is in this novel. He calls back to the very beginnings in New England so that he can explain every part of its development. Ultimately, this assists the reader in understanding the reasoning behind the behaviors of the crew when faced with a long journey and impending storm.

Definition #2

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:20:46 UTC

Junger uses many specific terms to describe the scene of the ship tilting and attempting to right itself. However, it can be understood that many readers may not understand these terms. Therefore, he takes the time to also explain specifically what they mean for the ship. This also provides a better understanding of how difficult it is to maintain a ship in poor conditions. Ultimately, this definition allows the reader to both better understand the way the boat tips and how it needs to be recovered, which helps them to understand the scene. Additionally, it further allows Sebastian to explore his secondary purpose of explaining the terminology and history of the fishing industry and life at sea.

Foreshadowing

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:21:56 UTC

While Junger is just retelling a story of history, the story itself is still built on destruction and catastrophe. Therefore, he injects suspense into the work by stating that their “lives” were about to come together. The specific word choice as well as the separated placement of this sentence together bring forth a foreboding feeling into the scene. The storm begins to move in, and the lives of everyone on the sea grow to be in peril. Thus, the reader is left to wonder what dangers may face the men and what their fate may be. This case of foreshadowing engages the reader and gives them hints about the impending dangers that the storm provides.

Catalog

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:22:48 UTC

Sebastian chooses to list out the actions of many different ships to illustrate the numerous different choices available to anyone caught in the waves. The catalog shows that the path to survival was not black and white but instead a haze of uncertainty. The ships are stuck out in the middle of the ocean, a storm is forecasted to head straight for their region, and the storm’s specific path cannot be completely predicted. Therefore, the captains are required to make sudden decisions based on landscapes and potential hazards. Ultimately, it provides the reader with a stronger sense of the danger faced since the catalog illustrates the mystery the ships are dealing with alongside the deteriorating conditions of the sea.

Definition #3

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:23:14 UTC

The storm provides great risk to the ships as they face waves many times larger than them. Therefore, as these rogue waves begin to move in, Junger slows down the scene and turns to describe and define the terms for the potential failures. These definitions allow the reader to understand the true risk of sinking as well as clarifying exactly what the waves can cause to occur. Junger turning to definitions also again allows him to generalize and explain the phenomena of the sea that fishermen face, for many of these risks were greatly present in the newly formed hurricane as it moved into the North East.

Metaphor #1

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:24:37 UTC

Junger uses a metaphor to compare typical waves to sine curves, then he expands upon the metaphor with a specific description of how these storm waves break from that trend. Comparing waves to curves gives the visual of smooth slopes that remain consistent in nature, and the waves growing away from that illustrates the multitude and reasoning for the danger faced. The waves are no longer consistent, they are erratic towers above the usual level. Therefore, the ships are required to fight more against them and have less time to recover themselves before the next wave approaches. Ultimately, the metaphor provides a clear visual to the reader and helps them to understand the nature of the waves.

Personification #1

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:25:20 UTC

Sebastian personifies the currents themselves as passing in all directions and being uncertain. This description emphasizes the chaos of the ocean and the isolation of the waters circling completely around the boat. He has specifically described the dangers of the large waves, so now he broadens to generally describe the motion of the water as it shifts with the waves.The unpredictable currents also would make escape harder, as one would be fighting against the currents at times when trying to cruise away from the incoming gale. Ultimately, the personification of the currents provides a clear picture of their additional danger to the reader, helping to continually develop a visual of the entire scene.

Metaphor #2

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:26:19 UTC

Junger describes the sequence of casualties in a sinking ship, and while doing so he compares the tools to a “landslide” and the waves crashing to a “roar.” Both of these comparisons develop the severity of the storm and the problems of the moment. The engine room is the last room affected, so the ship is likely well on its way to sinking; therefore, the men in the room are trapped in a chaos of tools that could very well be like a landslide as they shift and collect in piles. Additionally, those in the room would be stuck without any vision, only able to hear the carnage of the sea pounding on the boat and the winds ripping around it. This whole list chronicling the sinking of a ship illustrates to the reader the suffering and clear risk that sinking provides. Ultimately, these specific metaphors give a strong description of the nature of the terrors.

Definition #4

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:27:14 UTC

The storm has now reached the fishing grounds, and conditions are worsening quickly. Junger describes what this scene looks like for the ships trapped out there, and he focuses on the rescue missions trying to save them as well. From this, he moves to define the term “manifestly unsafe voyage” as a description given when a ship is no longer safe to remain with. Both Sebastian’s mentioning of the term as well as its severe meaning serve to show the true nightmare caused by this storm. As it shows the reader, even the massive vessels designed for fishing cannot protect from the rough sea that the cyclone was generating. Junger continues to provide definitions because they better show the exact level of danger faced by the captains and men on the fishing trips.

Simile #1

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:27:41 UTC

Christine is now stuck on land, watching the water and wondering when Bobby may return. She is not aware of the storm raging out in open water, she only sees the water attacking the shores. Further, Junger describes the water as “cold” and “gray” which can both represent the mysterious or a negative energy. Therefore, he posits that while the sea may not be as rambunctious on the sea, it still emanates the same unsettling energy to observers. Sebastians choice to flash back to the New England shores illustrates to the reader the secluded nature of those out on the water, as their threats are invisible to those on land, while also showing that the water carries the same threat nonetheless.

Personification #2

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:28:07 UTC

Junger is continuing to paint the hurricane as a chaotic mass that isolates all within it. He personifies both the lights as “poking” out towards the sea and the darkness as “swarming” unpredictably around. He continues to emphasize the darkness to show how the storm could steal away the daylight and plunge all into night. He also continues to show how that darkness makes the men feel alone against the threat from the skies and sea. The other metaphor clearly illustrates their isolation, as they try to find some clarity with lights, but those lights can only “feebly” attempt to find any results. The dark is too thick to be broken by their small lights, so they remain stuck within it. These metaphors both serve to more and more emphasize to the reader how the fishers and rescue personnel have been trapped by the storm’s influence.

Slow Pacing

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:28:33 UTC

Junger slows down the pace and describes each part of this scene in great detail to build the suspense. It is not immediately clear whether Spillane will be rescued or not, so Junger builds on this question by describing his isolation thoroughly. He describes the pain he feels, his many attempts to keep hold of the raft, and the many times the raft was flipped by the winds. Each of these descriptions provide a more personal description of the dangers of being lost at sea, and they also realize the ideas of isolation that have been suggested by the darkness throughout the storm. Additionally, Sebastian uses this situation to illustrate that not only were fishers in danger, but so too were the rescue crews sent in to try to assist.

Repetition

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:29:04 UTC

Junger continues to explain Spillane’s struggles and repeats how he ends up underwater while being thrown around. These repetitions continue to represent the chaos and power of the cyclone as he fights against it but ends up in the same state repeatedly. Throughout the book, Sebastian has placed a focus on the crew of the Andrea Gail, the fishing industry as a whole, and the sinister power of the waves. Therefore, he now uses Spillane as an opportunity to display this power. Though he is able to escape in the end, he endures constant struggle and is thrown around until he is able to find that escape.

Contrast

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:29:32 UTC

Junger contrasts between her two opposite states to illustrate her struggle. Realistically her husband is lost, so many treat her with respect for that. However, the rescue crews do not want to give up on him, so they continue to search and reassure her that he is alive. This contrast represents the other half of the peril caused by storms out on the sea. For most of the story, the coast does not even know about the storm spinning out in the ocean, so they are left in complete darkness as to the safety of the people who went on the trip, mirroring the darkness encountered by those who are trapped in its influence. Ultimately, this contrast and scene provides the reader with another outside view of the calamity to help them better understand the greater impact.

Simile #2

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:30:18 UTC

Throughout the story, Junger has taken chances to explain the workings of the fishing industry. Therefore, he can build off that provided knowledge in order to make this claim. He has already explained the at times loose nature of the field, and he has also explained how often the fishermen spend their time in bars. Hence, he is able to connect the two into a simile to emphasize just how common cutting corners occurs. His choices of definitions and context during the story provide the reader an easy bridge into this assertion as he explains the interrogation of an officer of the Andrea Gail.

Personification #3

wsibbald26 — 2024-10-31 21:30:57 UTC

Throughout the story, Junger’s descriptions show that the hurricane was chaotic and destructive for all who encountered it. Thus, he now personifies it to illustrate how it seems to linger as it continually pushes through more and more people. Even after it has dissipated, the structures and lives it damaged serve as reminders of the great impact that it brought to the ocean off the New England coast. He has shown the methods of the industry, the struggles of those caught in the water, and the struggles of those left unaware on the coast, so now he can plainly state how wide of an area the storm has left a long lasting impact upon.