Hungry Ocean Analysis

Name: Nguyen Dat

Date: Feb 26

Class: Acad. Comm. for Grad (Tuesday)

Professor: Charles Raras

The Hungry Ocean Peer Evaluation

Many people think that fisherman is one of the most dangerous professions and not suite for woman. However, Linda Greenlaw, the captain of the Hannah Boden, has proved herself that female can be a fisherman. She breaks the beliefs and superstitious that women are “Jonahs” (bad luck aboard boats) and also make the world realized that gender discrimination does not play a part on her career. As for being female, she says, "it hasn't been a big deal. I never anticipated problems stemming from being female…I have been surprised…by the number of people who are genuinely amazed that a woman might be capable of running a fishing boat. Frankly, I'm amazed that they're amazed" (Linda Greenlaw, page 58). As being a captain and had been fishing professionally for 15 years, Linda faced many obstacles and problems such as personal issue, crew problem or the competition with others boat … she has to make good decisions in order to ensure the survival of the boat and reach her ultimate goal, which is to catch as many fish as possible. 

Fisherman is a hard and difficult job, especially for women. Linda Greenlaw has many personal problems that other men captain haven’t.

She is a captain of the boat, she is a fisherman so she has no time for her family, for finding a boyfriend or a relationship. As she said, “My entire world was fishing. Where could I possibly go from here? And who cared? Who cared that I had sacrificed so much for my life of adventure? Who knew that I desperately wanted a husband, a house full of children, a boring job? How had I wound up here in the first place? ...” (Linda Greenlaw, 50)

Above all, Linda Greenlaw is a woman, but doesn’t like other women with the same age, they have their own family with their husband, children; and live a normal life like a housewife every day, Linda Greenlaw  spend almost days of a year in her boat with male crews. Maybe in the ocean, she has no fear, head with high waves and she is a good captain on her boat, but when she came back to the island, she has no family in age 40, she cannot do housework like others, and maybe sometime she desire that she can do them by herself.

Sometime, she and other fisherman wonder that choosing to be a fisherman is right or wrong. They love the ocean, the trip but are the results after trips deserved to their sacrifice, “...anyone who chooses to make fishing his occupation solely for the money is in the wrong business. If no thrill is experienced in catching fish, no satisfaction in going to sea and returning to shore, no pride in exclaiming ‘I am a fisherman,’ then a life on the water will be unfulfilling, perhaps even unbearable. Among the unhappy with whom I am acquainted, perhaps the most miserable people are those who fish out of necessity rather than out of a love of the sea and the seafaring life. I have always maintained that when I no longer feel a thrill, satisfaction, and pride from fishing, I will start a new career” (Linda Greenlaw, 248-249)

In a group or a community, conflict happens is inevitable and the Hannah Boden boat is not an exception. As a leader, Linda Greenlaw deals with many problems that come from her crew and she has to pass through them for having the best result before and after a trip. It can be the conflict between her crew, for example:

        “I hate to be a rat, but Carl and Peter are about to come to blows”, Linda Greenlaw said.

She continued, “I noticed a personality conflict last trip, but though they over by it now. As long as they both do their jobs, it doesn’t affect the rest of us, right?”

        “You don’t have to listen to it. You’re up here” Ringo said, still looking at the weather map.

        “Well, I can’t make them like each other.” I thought I sounded a bit defensive.

Ringo rossed the map back onto the console and looked me in the eye. “Among other endearments, Carl has been calling Peter ‘filthy nigger.’ I don’t know ig that has any effect on you but it sure does me.” (Linda Greenlaw, 75)

And on the Linda Greenlaw’s boat, racism still exists. It not only shows the wrong of ethics but also makes the disunity in her crew. Linda is so sad and shock about it, “Crew problems. I hate this shit. I hate it more than hurricanes and slow fishing. I’ve never had to deal with a racial problem before, but I guess I’m about to learn how” (Linda Greenlaw, 75-76). Linda shows us how strong she is, she is ready for all situations, she is the captain so she has to solve that problem for her boat’s surviving.