This past week we read a story in class titled The Aquatic Uncle. It took some scientific principles and dealt with them in an entertaining way. Essentially, it is the tale of evolution from the perspective of the creatures that left the ocean to seek out the land. In this tale, the main character belongs to a family that has abandoned the sea for land - all of them except for one stubborn old uncle. The uncle has remained a fish and scoffs at the family as they walk about on land trying to survive. The uncle is mostly kept secret as he could potentially be an embarrassment for the family - he certainly is for our main character - but he's also a respected member of the family. Each year the family gathers at the edge of the water to spend time with the uncle. Each tries to convince the other to leave their home for the other with neither side agreeing.
The main character, Qfwfq (don't ask me how it's pronounced), falls in love with a female that has become very well adapted to life on land. She is lithe and graceful, embodying everything the land creatures wish to be. They become romantically involved and eventually engaged to be married. As the uncle is an important member of the family, our young love-stricken proto-creature knows that he will eventually have to introduce his betrothed to his uncle. Just as he mentions it, who should pop his scaly head out of the water but the aforementioned uncle. Qfwfq is mortified, thinking that his beloved will think less of him for having an aquatic uncle but she doesn't say anything. Eventually, his fiance begins to ask more questions about the uncle. At first, Qfwfq is dubious, thinking she's making fun of him.
As time goes on and the couple spends more time with the uncle, it becomes obvious that the uncle and the girlfriend have a thing for each other. In the end, the girlfriend leaves Qfwfq and runs away - or rather, swims away - with the uncle.
The story is entertaining but I'm not sure there's a moral to the story. Maybe the author lost a girl to a creepy uncle and is finding a cathartic way to deal with his loss. At any rate, the story is amusing in that it takes something fairly scientific and turns it into something relatable.
Josh,
ReplyDeleteI aswell found this story entertaining, although also a bit perplexing. As for the moral, I feel like there might have been one, although as always, it might just be in the mind of the reader.
I have to say I like that fact that the person the protagonist was most convinced would take a dislike to the aquatic lifestyle was the one who finally submitted to it. The story makes a point out of highlighting the protagonists awkwardness towards his uncles back-striving, opposing himself to the natural evolution. Yet, the most adapt creature to living on land chooses to go back to the water. Also, the last comment the protagonist makes, about him continuously meeting creatures that are somehow superior to him, yet he wouldn't change places with them, had he been given the chance. It says something about the protagonists own stubbornness. It left me with the feeling that the author wanted to infuse us with a rather conservative outlook(?) Or possibly just confuse us...