People of the Whale

Thomas, dealing with the grief of Marco’s death and his own traumatic past, begins constructing a tall fence. His aim is to block the view of the ocean from Witka’s old gray house, where he now lives. As he works, Thomas reflects on the whale hunt, feeling remorse for his part in it and recalling how Marco, similar to his great-grandfather Witka, had a deep connection with the whale. Thomas laments how the whale was killed, the disrespectful slaughter contrasting with the reverence his ancestors held for these creatures.

Ruth visits Thomas, bringing food. On noticing the fence, she questions why he would block out the beauty of the ocean, suggesting that he has lost more than just a view. Ruth tries to remind Thomas of their shared past and the beauty of life, but Thomas is consumed by his inner turmoil.

As Thomas reflects on his life, he is visited by the parents of a fellow soldier, Murphy, who had served with him. The parents seek closure about their son’s death, but the visit only deepens Thomas’s sense of guilt and loss. He tells them that Murphy didn’t suffer, but Thomas is lying.