The Boat Characters

The narrator, who isn’t named in the story, is a middle-aged university professor at a Midwestern university. He is frequently haunted by memories of how he grew up, which are very different from his… read analysis of The narrator

Like the narrator and most members of his family, the narrator’s father isn’t named in the story. He comes from a working-class background in Cape Breton and didn’t have children until later in life, not… read analysis of The narrator’s father

Although her maiden name provides the namesake for the titular boat, the Jenny Lynn, MacLeod never reveals the narrator’s mother’s current last name. The narrator’s mother is a tall, strong woman who… read analysis of The narrator’s mother

Always referred to as a group, the narrator’s sisters all follow a remarkably similar life path, and the narrator watches their lives with fascination. Red-haired and beautiful, they help their mother around the house when… read analysis of The narrator’s sisters

Late in the story, the narrator notes that big commercial fishing boats have attempted to come into the traditional fishing waters of the village, but are unable to make inroads because they find their traps… read analysis of Commercial fishing interests

The brother of the narrator’s mother and the fishing partner of his father, the narrator’s uncle isn’t mentioned until later in the story, even though he has presumably been part of the family fishing… read analysis of The narrator’s uncle

When, as an adult teaching at a Midwestern university, the narrator goes out to an all-night restaurant, he usually sees the same waitress and has the same conversation. She comments it must be cold out… read analysis of Waitress