In this work I’m going to take a deeper look at the main character Lauchlin Grant and his development. I’ll give an overview of the story “Ship fever” by telling you something about the main events. In addition I’m going to introduce the characters and show how they influence Lauchlin Grant in his character and behaviour. In the end, I will show the development of Lauchlin Grant during the epidemic.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Summary of the story
- The characters
- Introduction
- Susanna Rowley
- Nora Kynd
- Arthur Adam Rowley
- Dr. Jaques and Dr. Douglas
- The development of Dr. Lauchlin Grant
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work focuses on the character development of Dr. Lauchlin Grant during the Irish potato famine and its impact on Grosse Isle. The story “Ship Fever” by Andrea Barrett portrays the suffering of immigrants arriving on ships plagued by typhus, known as “ship fever.”
- The devastating effects of the Great Famine on Ireland
- The experiences of Irish immigrants fleeing to North America
- The impact of disease and mortality on the immigrants and the physicians treating them
- The evolving relationship between Lauchlin Grant and Susannah Rowley, highlighting themes of love, loss, and sacrifice
- The role of compassion and duty in the face of overwhelming suffering, embodied by both Lauchlin and Nora Kynd
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The story begins with Lauchlin Grant, a young doctor in Quebec, and his relationship with his childhood friend, Susannah Rowley. The arrival of a letter from her husband, Arthur Adam Rowley, who is reporting on the famine in Ireland, fuels a heated debate about the importance of their respective work. Lauchlin is drawn to Grosse Isle to care for the arriving immigrants, many of whom are sick with typhus.
Lauchlin faces the harsh realities of the epidemic, encountering countless sick and dying immigrants. He meets Nora Kynd, a young Irish woman who is seemingly dead but miraculously revived. Her story reveals the devastating impact of the famine on her family and community.
As the epidemic intensifies, Lauchlin dedicates himself to his work, finding himself increasingly exhausted and emotionally drained. He travels back to Quebec to visit Susannah, where a brief but intimate moment deepens their connection. Shortly after returning to Grosse Isle, Lauchlin contracts the fever and eventually succumbs to the disease.
Nora, having recovered from her own illness and cared for Lauchlin during his final days, sets out for Quebec to deliver his belongings to Susannah. However, she arrives to find that Susannah has also become infected and is near death. Despite her own losses, Nora contemplates offering assistance but ultimately decides not to intervene.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The story explores the themes of the Irish potato famine, immigration, typhus, disease, mortality, compassion, love, loss, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of societal neglect and systemic inequalities. Key characters include Dr. Lauchlin Grant, Susannah Rowley, Nora Kynd, and Arthur Adam Rowley, whose lives are intertwined by the tragedy of the famine and the epidemic.
- Quote paper
- Kathl Morgenstern (Author), 2005, Andrea Barret "Ship Fever". An Analysis of the Development of the Main Characters, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/128469
