People of the Whale

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2008

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 4

Part 1, Chapters 5-9

Part 2, Chapters 10-13

Part 2, Chapters 14-17

Part 3, Chapter 18-20

Part 3, Chapters 21-23

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Part 3, Chapter 18-20Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3, Chapter 18 Summary: “The Wall: The Names”

Thomas reflects on his past and confronts the haunting memories of war at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, known as The Wall. He observes the physical and symbolic elements of The Wall, including mementos and engraved names, which evoke powerful emotions and memories. Thomas is struck by the shared grief and the somber atmosphere, feeling a mixture of anger, fear, guilt, and sorrow as he processes his experiences. He recalls moments from the war, including being pushed out of a helicopter, the fear and reality of imminent death, and the intense struggle to survive in a hostile environment. He remembers his efforts to blend into the jungle, the moral dilemmas he faced, and the heavy burden of his actions, including killing his own men to protect innocent lives. These memories lead him to question his own humanity and the meaning of his survival.

The focus shifts to Thomas’s interactions with his fellow veterans in their motel room, especially with his old friend Dwight, who was the tribal chairman who pushed the whale hunt that resulted in Marco’s death. Thomas confronts the reality that he killed his own men during the war, a fact that has long tormented him. He admits this to Dwight and Dimitri, saying, “I killed my own men. I looked at their faces, I looked at the children they were going to kill, the women they were going to hurt, and I shot the Americans, those men” (255). The conversation takes a dramatic turn when Thomas, remembering how Dwight was jealous of him in the past, accuses Dwight of killing Marco. Dwight’s reaction to Thomas’s accusation is one of denial and defensiveness. He tries to dismiss Thomas’s claims, but the tension in the room escalates.

Part 3, Chapter 19 Summary: “Ruth Watching”

Ruth reflects on the connection between Marco and the whales, contemplating their intertwined fates: “Marco and the whale were related once again. He was the boy who went to live with the whales” (258). Ruth is wrapped in a shawl that holds significant memories, including those of her son. She recalls standing by the ocean in this shawl, now tearful as she thinks of Marco. Ruth’s thoughts then turn to the absence of whales since their last hunt and her enduring fascination with these majestic creatures. Despite the changes in her community and the men, including Thomas, her belief in the power of the ocean remains: “The ocean is a landlord here. Everyone pays the sea” (260).

Part 3, Chapter 20 Summary: “DOA: Department of the Army: Rooms”

Thomas, clad in his dress uniform, grapples with his war memories and a sense of remorse. He reflects on the differences between his A’atsika culture and American values, noting, “The A’atsika creators punished humans who weren’t peaceful” (261). Meanwhile, Dwight observes Thomas from an adjacent room, sensing something amiss.

Thomas sets out in the rain to the Department of the Army, intending to return his medals as a symbolic rejection of his military past. His journey is marked by a sense of disconnection and alienation as he navigates the imposing and bureaucratic maze of the Pentagon. On meeting a major, Thomas declares his intention: “I want to return these. I want it noted that I am giving them back” (263). His words are met with confusion and disbelief.

As Thomas reveals his guilt over killing fellow Americans and his decision to leave his dog tags at the scene to feign death, a doctor attempts to intervene, encouraging Thomas to let these events go. Unmoved, Thomas insists on relinquishing his medals: “They hurt my hands to touch them. They are hot. Like fire” (266). Ultimately, Thomas leaves the medals behind and exits the building, feeling a sense of disconnection and unresolved turmoil.

Part 3, Chapters 18-20 Analysis

The overarching message in these chapters centers around the journey of healing from the trauma of war, both for individuals and communities, and the struggle to find a balance between traditional values and the realities of the modern world. Thomas’s visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Chapter 18 is emblematic of the enduring psychological scars left by war. His reflections at The Wall, intertwined with memories of the war’s brutality and moral complexities, represent the internal battle veterans face. The physical presence of The Wall acts as a conduit for Thomas’s emotional release, revealing the deep-seated trauma that extends beyond the battlefield and infiltrates his personal life. Thomas’s character, with his profound internal conflict, is a reminder of the long-term effects of war on soldiers’ mental health and the difficulty of reconciling such experiences with pre-war identities.

In People of the Whale, memory is key to identity, shaping how individuals understand themselves and their place in the world; the act of remembering, in this sense, is a form of storytelling through which the narrative of one’s past is constantly (re)written and interpreted. Healthy mythology and spirituality are alive, growing and changing with the people sustaining it. Thomas, however, struggles to adapt. Within the theme of The Significance of Mythology and Spirituality, the symbolism of walls in general, and The Wall in particular, is multifaceted, highlighting the contrast between rigidity and fluidity, between barriers and expansive freedom. Chapter 18, with its opening lines on the nature of walls, calls the reader’s attention to this symbolism explicitly. In the context of memory and spirituality, the imagery of walls is as important as that of the ocean. For some, like the doctor, there is a clear line between past and present. For Thomas, the past and present are hardly distinguishable. The Wall is a living thing: “The Wall is a world, a time, a place” (244). The blame that Thomas casts on Dwight for Marcos’s death adds a personal and tragic layer to Thomas’s pain, emphasizing how the war’s repercussions have extended far beyond the battlefield and into his family life.

Notably, memory is also a communal experience, emphasizing the theme of Individual and Communal Healing. In the narrative, the act of remembering is not done in isolation but in the context of a community that shares a collective history and trauma. This communal aspect of memory underlines the importance of shared experiences and collective healing. Thomas’s journey is not just personal; it reflects the broader struggles of his community and other veterans. Thomas’s struggle to reconcile his actions during the war with his A’atsika cultural values again highlights the author’s interest in cultural disconnection. Thomas’s attempt to return his military medals signifies a rejection of the values and actions he was forced to adopt during the war, contrasting with the teachings of his native culture. This act of rejection is a symbolic step toward healing and reclaiming his Indigenous identity, underscoring the novel’s message about the importance of cultural roots in personal redemption.

Ruth’s reflections in Chapter 19 also explore memory, with her mourning process intertwined with her role within the theme of Environmental Stewardship and Responsibility. Her grief, intertwined with the absence of whales, represents a broader communal loss—the erosion of cultural and environmental harmony. Ruth is a figure deeply rooted in her environment and her past; her reflections on Marco, the whales, and her community reveal a life shaped by the sea, loss, and the passage of time. Ruth’s narrative further emphasizes the need to remember and honor the past, not just as a means of mourning but as a component of healing and maintaining cultural continuity.

Across these chapters, Hogan uses her characters’ journeys to highlight various paths to healing. While Thomas stays more solitary and introspective, Ruth remains embedded in her community and environment. Both paths, however, converge on the importance of reconciling with the past and embracing cultural identity as essential steps toward healing. The narrative suggests that redemption and healing are complex processes, involving personal introspection, cultural reconnection, and a willingness to address the unresolved traumas of the past.