What indications in this story, in the way of color and form, do you find of Mr. Steele’s being also an artist of the brush?
What plot purpose does Man’el perform in his dare to Peter, to “go fishin’”? Does he serve to get the situation over the impasse? Is it a too obvious trick?
The struggle in the last lap of the action is one against the elements. What are the two subdivisions of this struggle? Is the outcome satisfactory? What symbolic value has the final sentence?
CHING, CHING, CHINAMAN
Presentation. The story is told in reminiscent vein by one who uses his own angle as a boy. It recalls the manner of “Treasure Island,” as “The Yellow Cat” recalls Kipling. The boy’s angle is faithfully kept, with excellent results. The first value of the boy’s angle is that much of the action was unclear to him, as it progressed chronologically, and this obscurity is carried over to the reader. The reader, then, is kept in suspense, as the boy was, until the outcome. It is a well-known and capital means of creating and heightening suspense. The second value is that the boy’s point of view is the best for unity of effect. Observe that this is true in studying the
Plot.
Initial Incident: Malden marries Sympathy Gibbs, whom Mate Snow has been considering for himself. This incident motivates the chain of events that follow.
(The following is revealed out of chronological order, as the plot is presented. But as effect resulting from cause it follows, in the plot construction, the initial incident):
First Steps toward Dramatic Climax: Mate Snow writes in the name of Gibbs, to Minister Malden, saying he is alive. “Gibbs” demands money as a reward for his silence and non-appearance. Malden, unable to bear the thought of his child being a bastard, meets the demand. He further agrees to stay away from his wife and child. (Do you think the motivation is strong enough, under the given conditions, to make the Minister do this?) Sam Kow, a Chinaman sees the exchange of letter and money.
Next Steps: (These are revealed at first reading, but cause wonder and suspense, as the preceding steps are unknown to the boy and to the reader):