Sept. 26th 2013
Brad Case
Mr. Case’s English 9
Room 304
Moods
The Whale
The first draft:
The Whale is a humorous story because it ironic. It is ironic because the guy really catches a whale and when he tells everyone they think he’s lying but he really, he really catches the whale but the people who think he is lying laugh even the girl he likes in the village her name is Gabrielle other guys like her too. The gets even more funny when he tries to prove that what everyone thinks is lie is really the truth anyways he goes out fishing again to prove it and brings the banker’s son Clovis with him and Clovis tells everyone that Ambroise didn’t even really catch a whale so he made him seem like a liar. But, Clovis really wanted Gabrielle too. Then Clovis thought he’d lost Gabrielle but he didn’t because she thought that it was cute that he would tell this whale of a lie to get her to notice him. So she goes to his house and tells him that his lie made her love him even though he was really telling the truth. So that’s why the short story the Whale is humorous. Ambroise changes his truth into a lie and gets what he rHere’s the second:
Second draft:
The Whale, by Yves Theriault is humorous because it is ironic. The protagonist, Ambroise Bourdages, really catches a whale and when he tells everyone in the small fishing village he lives in about it they think he’s lying. Everyone in the village including the girl he loves, Gabrielle, view his tall tale with skepticism.Because Gabrielle is considered the biggest catch on land, and most of the other men in the village are trolling for her attention as well, he resolves to prove that his tall tale isn’t the lie he appears to be telling. Ambroise passionately defends his story; consequently, news travels and he quickly becomes famous for his foolishness up and down the east coast. Furthermore, in his love fueled determination to prove himself, he goes out fishing again and this time brings the banker’s son, Clovis, with him; a man known for his honesty. Against all odds, Ambroise catches another whale, and this time he has a witness. Sadly, however, the irony is revealed that Clovis really wants Gabrielle too; and much to Ambroise’s surprise, Clovis seemingly ruins Ambroise by telling the villagers thatin fact he did not catch anything. Consequently, Ambroise’shopes are dashed. He believes he has lost and is miserable; however, Gabrielle misconstrues Ambroise’s conviction as an attempt to win her over with his whale of a lie. When Ambroise realizes that changing his truth into a lie will help him land Gabrielle as his girlfriend, he immediately does so. He ultimately proves that people will go to extraordinary lengths to obtain their hearts’ desires. The comedy is complete when Ambroise lands the most desirable woman in the village using the bait of his passion. Even though his honest reputation is tarnished, he lands the biggest catch of his life by knowing when to lie.