Half-Husky: Themes, Summary, and Analysis
Themes in Half-Husky
- Vanessa’s Loyalty to Her Father: She felt obligated to be loyal to her father, having disappointed her mother by not attending the parade.
- Passing of Time and Generational Gaps: Ewen’s death created a communication barrier between him and his daughter, highlighting the impact of time on intergenerational understanding.
- The Absence of Real Life: The story explores the unreality of life due to restrictive circumstances, contrasting Vanessa’s father’s mundane life with his paradoxical freedom during WWII.
Half-Husky by Margaret Laurence
Summary
Vanessa and her family live with her grandfather Connor after her father’s death. Peter Chorniuk gifts her a half-husky pup named Nanuk. Despite her grandfather’s initial disapproval, Vanessa convinces him to keep the dog. She cares for Nanuk, but the pup is tormented by Harvey Shinwell, a paper delivery boy. Harvey’s cruelty escalates, leading to a series of attacks on Nanuk. Vanessa’s attempts to seek help are met with indifference. She tries to retaliate but is unsuccessful. Eventually, Harvey’s mistreatment by his aunt is revealed. Nanuk is sent to a farm, and later, Vanessa learns he was euthanized. Harvey is arrested for robbery. Vanessa never sees him again.
Narrator
The story is narrated from Vanessa’s perspective.
Voice
The story is written in the first person, with Vanessa, the protagonist, narrating the events. The author is Margaret Laurence.
Author
Margaret Laurence. This story features Vanessa at fifteen years old, a progression from her twelve-year-old self in “A Bird in the House.”
Time of Story
The story is set in the present, with Vanessa, now a teenager, narrating. The time is September, and the place is Manawaka.
The passage of time is evident in the descriptions of Nanuk, who is four months old at the beginning and eight months old later in the story.