Knots Tie Things Together

A simple object such as a knot in a rope could be meaningless to most people. However it is this key symbol that represents the human experience. Knots appear throughout the novel and bind everything together. They signify different kinds of connections depending on their specific form. In Annie Proulx’ novel, The Shipping News, knots symbolize the different aspects of Quoyle’s life.
Quoyle is a man who does not know where he fits in so with his two children and his aunt they move to Newfoundland to start their lives again. Knots are important part of the novel as they appear within the pages acting as breaks to separate paragraphs. In turn these knots serve as a connection tying the thoughts of the author together. Each paragraph is just as important to the one that comes before it. In this way the knots are first shown to have importance to the novel. The title of chapter two, “Love Knot” (12) symbolizes the strength of a lover's commitment. However the knot ...