Timothy Findley’s Not Wanted on the Voyage is a re-telling of the biblical story of Noah and the ark.
Adam was created in the image of God. He was made to care for the Garden of Eden and the creatures that inhabit it. Eve was created because “it is not good for the man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) She was created from Adam’s rib. She was his property. A similar dynamic between male and female characters exists in this novel. The story is set in an extremely patriarchal society where women are the eternal scapegoats. When Japeth’s wolves are dying of thirst, the blame is immediately put on Emma. When the Emma and Japeth’s marriage is not consummated, it is because Emma is too “tight.” When Mrs. Noyes and Hannah deliver ape children, they …show more content…
Most notably, Lucy chooses to identify as a woman while on Earth. In a conversation with Michael, he says “but you’re a … you’re a…” to which Lucy responds “don’t say man.” (102) Unlike the other characters in the book, she chooses her gender. Lucy is a woman but she is male. This goes against the clear constructs of male and female that was previously established in the novel. Is it possible that there is grey area? Lucy morphs from man to woman and back to man. She symbolizes the fluidity of gender. Other characters such as Hannah and Mrs. Noyes also struggle with femininity. Mrs. Noyes gains courage and is able to speak her mind; something that was entirely unheard of at the time. She breaks free from the submissive, weak woman she once was. Hannah is not so fortunate. Her fight is internal. All her life, she has been the model wife and daughter-in-law. On the ark, she questions the men in her life. She despises being a woman. She hates that her sole purpose was to care for men and carry their children. Hannah acts as a foil to Mrs. Noyes. Though they both felt suffocated by the responsibilities of being a woman, Mrs. Noyes took action while Hannah remained compliant. It was the headstrong personality of Mrs. Noyes that changed the dynamic on the ark. Women have the power to change everything, but it is the inaction that allows the men to stay in …show more content…
In the Bible, homosexuality is not an acceptable sexual orientation. It is a sin – a deformity. In the novel, any diversions from hetero relationships are kept between the lines. The reader explores sexuality as the characters do. Each character shows a different relationship to sex. Lucy is not only a man dressed as a woman but also a different species altogether. Michael, as well as the reader, is compelled to ask how Lucy plans to cope with the consummation of marriage. There is clearly taboo with male-male relationships as well as human-angel relationships. Lucy remains aloof by responding “I’ll make it up as I go along” (103). Just like sexuality itself, Lucy is unclear. Is Ham gay? Do they have sex? Does simply choosing to be a woman make you one? These questions remain unanswered because sexuality is not black or white. It is rather a spectrum of colour. Hannah explores her sexual orientation. She sees sex as an obligation to her husband and to Noah. She finds no pleasure from it. It is not until later in the book that Hannah expresses homoerotic tendencies towards her young sister-in-law. Similarly, Emma also had lesbian inclinations, which is likely the cause of her lack of desire for
Adam was created in the image of God. He was made to care for the Garden of Eden and the creatures that inhabit it. Eve was created because “it is not good for the man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) She was created from Adam’s rib. She was his property. A similar dynamic between male and female characters exists in this novel. The story is set in an extremely patriarchal society where women are the eternal scapegoats. When Japeth’s wolves are dying of thirst, the blame is immediately put on Emma. When the Emma and Japeth’s marriage is not consummated, it is because Emma is too “tight.” When Mrs. Noyes and Hannah deliver ape children, they …show more content…
Most notably, Lucy chooses to identify as a woman while on Earth. In a conversation with Michael, he says “but you’re a … you’re a…” to which Lucy responds “don’t say man.” (102) Unlike the other characters in the book, she chooses her gender. Lucy is a woman but she is male. This goes against the clear constructs of male and female that was previously established in the novel. Is it possible that there is grey area? Lucy morphs from man to woman and back to man. She symbolizes the fluidity of gender. Other characters such as Hannah and Mrs. Noyes also struggle with femininity. Mrs. Noyes gains courage and is able to speak her mind; something that was entirely unheard of at the time. She breaks free from the submissive, weak woman she once was. Hannah is not so fortunate. Her fight is internal. All her life, she has been the model wife and daughter-in-law. On the ark, she questions the men in her life. She despises being a woman. She hates that her sole purpose was to care for men and carry their children. Hannah acts as a foil to Mrs. Noyes. Though they both felt suffocated by the responsibilities of being a woman, Mrs. Noyes took action while Hannah remained compliant. It was the headstrong personality of Mrs. Noyes that changed the dynamic on the ark. Women have the power to change everything, but it is the inaction that allows the men to stay in …show more content…
In the Bible, homosexuality is not an acceptable sexual orientation. It is a sin – a deformity. In the novel, any diversions from hetero relationships are kept between the lines. The reader explores sexuality as the characters do. Each character shows a different relationship to sex. Lucy is not only a man dressed as a woman but also a different species altogether. Michael, as well as the reader, is compelled to ask how Lucy plans to cope with the consummation of marriage. There is clearly taboo with male-male relationships as well as human-angel relationships. Lucy remains aloof by responding “I’ll make it up as I go along” (103). Just like sexuality itself, Lucy is unclear. Is Ham gay? Do they have sex? Does simply choosing to be a woman make you one? These questions remain unanswered because sexuality is not black or white. It is rather a spectrum of colour. Hannah explores her sexual orientation. She sees sex as an obligation to her husband and to Noah. She finds no pleasure from it. It is not until later in the book that Hannah expresses homoerotic tendencies towards her young sister-in-law. Similarly, Emma also had lesbian inclinations, which is likely the cause of her lack of desire for