Book: Not Wanted on the Voyage
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| ``...went in two and two unto Noah into the ark...`` |
Author: Timothy Findley
Publisher: Viking Canada
Year: 1984
Can you imagine being one of the chosen few to
land a coveted ticket on Noah's Ark? What an honour that would be. The entire
population is going to wash away and you scored big by being part of the chosen
family by God to carry on the human and animal race. While according to Timothy
Findley's version of the famous tale, most of the people chosen would have
rather been washed away.
Findley (1930-2002) tells his own version of the
tale using the Noyes family. The world has become corrupt and God chooses Noah
Noyes and his family to carry on. Unlike the Biblical version, this one focuses
more on characters.
Main Characters:
Noah: Known as Doctor Noyes, Noah is portrayed a
tyrannical ass. Hard on his sons, demeaning towards his daughter-in-laws, and
completely disrespectful to his wife, the reader completely looses respect for
the aging patriarch from the start. His cat lives in complete fear of him, as
he is notorious for using kittens for scientific experiments. As the book
progresses, it is discovered that Noah is sexually assaulting his
daughter-in-laws and is also becoming senile in the process.
God: God is roughly 700 years old at this point
according to Findley. His character is portrayed as tired, cranky, and
downtrodden by the current situation on Earth. A flood seems like the easiest
solution to eliminate the world's corruption and sins. However it seems like
the choosing of the Noyes family is solely based on a past friendship with
Noah. At least that is the only way to explain why anyone would choose this
dysfunctional family to carry on the human race or maybe its just Findley’s way of portraying
a not-so perfect family people can relate to.
Mottyl: Mottyl is the cat and quite frankly the
most likeable character in the story. She gives the perspective of the animals
prior to the voyage and during the voyage. She is originally denied entry by
Noah onto the ship, but is snuck onboard by Mrs. Noyes.
Mrs. Noyes: As the wife of Noah, she is a
depressed alcoholic who is constantly being put down by Noah throughout the
novel. She does spiteful things towards her husband, however she does have a
good heart. She helps her daughter-in-law Emma see her family, she cherishes her
cat's company, and she tries to save Emma's sister (though ultimately fails as
Noah orders their son to kill her).
There are other secondary characters onboard the
ship as well. Noah’s three sons Shem (described to be a worker with little
opinion on any matters), Japeth (who has blue skin after an encounter with
thieves), and Ham (who is wise and science-minded).
Each son has a wife who plays a significant role.
Shem is married to Hannah who is favoured both by God and Noah. Her character
is very pious though it is later discovered that she is carrying Noah’s child.
Japeth is with Emma who is twelve years old. A major issue during the story is
that they have yet to consummate the marriage after a year. Noah comes to a
disturbing and horrifying solution on how to fix this problem. Finally, Ham
begins the novel single, but discovers a woman in the forest shortly before the
floods begin. Her name is “Lucy” and she is Lucifer in disguise. It is
Findley’s way of getting Lucifer onboard the ark. Obviously there are still
evils in this current world and therefore Lucifer had to have somehow made the
journey. No one really questions when Ham decides to marry a mysterious
seven-foot tall woman.
This story isn’t for truly devout Christians. At some
parts it can be offensive and disturbing. It is a perspective of one man and is meant to be read as fiction. The story of Noah’s Ark in the
Bible is actually very brief and this gives the reader a more personal view of
the characters involved.
