Big Fish: Part 2: His Greatest Power Summary & Analysis

When Edward left Ashland, he vowed to see the world, and he does. Edward explores far and wide, and he travels to every continent, making “cameo” appearances in William’s life in between, occasionally saving William from dying while urging him towards “manhood.” No matter where he goes, however, he always wants to leave William “laughing.” This is how he wants William to remember him, and how he wants to remember William. William says Edward’s ability to make him laugh is Edward’s greatest power. 

William tells a joke about a man named Roger who’s shocked when his neighbor calls to say Roger’s cat died. Roger is horrified that his neighbor is so blunt, and scolds him to break the news more gradually next time, perhaps beginning with saying the cat’s on the roof, then saying the cat looks sick, then saying the cat’s at the vet, and so on. The next time Roger gets a phone call from his neighbor, the neighbor begins to say “Your father’s on the roof…” This is how William likes to remember Edward. On the roof, well dressed, looking around, smiling and winking at William as he falls—in his “mysterious, mythic” way.