The Double Hook

The "Double Hook" is a novel written by Sheila Watson. It was written in 1959 and is in a distinctive style, being much more like poetry than prose. It is often considered to be Canada's first modern novel [ [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002362 Double Hook, The ] ] [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002362] due to the fact that it branched away from traditional styles in character, plot, themes, form and style.

Plot and Characters

The Double Hook takes place in a small, rural, Canadian town called Nineveh. Nineveh used to be a thriving town, but at the time of the novel has become a ghost town, a place of general evil and moral corruption. The main characters consist of James who is the central character to the novel, his sister Greta and his brother William. Their mother is merely called The Old Lady and is the source of evil and corruption within Nineveh. Other characters include Felix and Angel who are married with unnamed children, Ara who is married to James' brother, William; Heinrich (also called The Boy), Lenchen and their mother Widow Wagner. There are two other minor characters, Theophil and Kip.

The story revolves around several major themes, all based on opposing forces, hence the name The Double Hook. The novel opens with James committing matricide against his mother, The Old Lady. However, within the context of the novel, this is considered a good act as it is The Old Lady who creates negative energy in Nineveh. The Old Lady fishes on everyone's property, yet this act of fishing is negative and symbolic of death. The Old Lady has no use for the fish, she simply continually kills them without using them for nourishment. This act is also seen as a Christian parable, as The Old Lady kills fish she can be viewed as the Anti-Christ, since Jesus used one fish to feed a whole town. Despite the fact that James kills his mother, she is seen throughout the novel on the properties of Felix and the Wagner's which perpetuates her inhuman qualities.

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