Whale Bones Symbol Analysis

The whale bones uncovered on the beach in Longboat Bay by an intense storm symbolize Abel Jackson’s family history. The bones are remnants of the whales Abel’s ancestors hunted when they first came to Longboat Bay over a hundred years ago. As such, the whale bones represent the livelihoods of previous generations of Jacksons. Now that the bones lie openly on the sand, it seems to Dora Jackson, Abel’s mother, that this family “history” has “unearth[ed] itself,” as if the land and sea are actively reminding her of the past. The whale bones indicate that even though much time has passed, the effects of the Jacksons’ past deeds still linger in Longboat Bay in the present, connecting Dora and Abel to the inhabitants of the bay who came before them.

Furthermore, seeing thousands of whale bones exposed on the shore makes Dora more vividly aware that the Jacksons have long depended on the ocean’s resources. Although the Jacksons no longer hunt whales, Dora and Abel continue to live off the sea by fishing to feed themselves. The whale bones emphasize to Dora how important it is to give back to the sea as much as she takes from it. Hoping to maintain respectful balance with the ocean, Dora realizes that now it’s “time to help the sea live,” just as it has helped her family live for generations.