An interesting observation I made this week near the end of Chapter 30 of “A Dream in Polar Fog” by Yuri Rytkheu, occurs shortly after a ship hits the shoreline and John’s mother Mary MacLennan arrives to bring John home. In this scene, John returns back to his late daughter’s grave amidst an ongoing back-and-forth where his mother Mary attempts to convince John to “go pack,” and “not stay” in Enmyn “for a moment longer” (30). While debating about his impending decision—to stay with his wife Pyl’mau and his children, or to return to the shoreline of Lake Ontario— John makes the visit to Tynevirineu-Mary MacLennan’s grave. This visit functions as a very symbolic conquest to the Far Cape right before John’s impending decision the following day, mostly because right after visiting his daughter’s tomb (which is expeceted to have been constructed with stone), John “seems to turn to stone” (30)!

There is little clarification by the narrator as to what exactly this phrase entails, but with all future conversations between himself and Mary MacLennan, John seems to be very mechanical in his delivery: “John nods wordlessly,” “’Yes,’ John quietly manages” (30). It is almost as if the connection between John’s mother and John’s daughter is materialized when John visits his daughter’s tomb. This materialization amounts in the form of John’s sad and stony one-word responses to his mother. I find it interesting to examine these scenes not only literally, but also figuratively with respect to certain images such as the tombstone that houses John’s daughter. Perhaps, a greater symbolic connection is at play here: not only between the John’s mother and John’s daughter (who both share the same name), but also between John’s daughter’s current state (within stone), John’s subsequent demeanor (turned to stone), and the delivery of future interactions with his own mother (stony and cold). Does anyone else find a similar interaction between symbolic and literal subjects within this piece? Please let me know what you think!