Quoyle's Character In 'The Shipping News'

In “The Shipping News”, the author defines Quoyle as submissive, lacking self-confidence, and perceiving himself as a failure as a human being. Quoyle’s plights are reflected in the author’s writing style, strengthening the image of Quoyle simply accepting his fate, and letting his past dictate his present and future. Quoyle stumbles through life, and when he falls, he struggles to pick himself back up as a direct result of his negative self-image. Proulx’s awkward, fragmented syntax shapes the reader’s interpretation of the text, and mirrors Quoyle’s physical and mental journey through life. He was taught insecurity from a young age, and constantly berated by his father, a “sly-looking lump” (60) who most likely pushed his repressed negativity onto Quoyle. Quoyle’s father is presented as tough and unfeeling, even going as far as to throw Quoyle into “pools, brooks, lakes, and surf” (19-20) to fight the boy’s fear of water. Quoyle feels isolated from his family and unwanted by them, and this dismal upbringing becomes something Quoyle can never quite shake off in his adult life. Once he was taught to feel like a disappointment and a burden, he was unable to escape this mentality, and as a result, cannot make anything of his life,

Quoyle is constantly deflecting people, pushing them away before there is even a slight chance of connection because of his fear and insecurity. He craves acceptance and love, but is unsure of how to get it. He didn’t grow up with good examples of healthy human relationships, and this impairs him in forming both platonic and romantic relationships, so he ends up alone for most of his life. His self-esteem takes a huge hit because of this, so he stops trying, and creates more loneliness for himself. It is a vicious cycle that he cannot break, leading to his dissatisfaction and