The "Mary Gloster"
The narrative centers on a dying shipowner, Sir Anthony Gloster, who reflects on his life and legacy while addressing his son, Dickie. Sir Anthony recounts his rise from humble beginnings to becoming a successful merchant prince, emphasizing the hard work and risks he took to build his shipping empire. He expresses disappointment in Dickie's lack of ambition and perceived weakness, contrasting it with the strength and resilience of his late wife, who played a crucial role in his success. As he nears death, Sir Anthony reveals his desire to be buried at sea alongside his wife, whose memory is tied to the ship named after her. He instructs Dickie to take the ship on a final voyage, ensuring that his body is returned to the depths where his wife rests. The father-son dynamic is fraught with tension, as Sir Anthony's disdain for Dickie's lifestyle and choices becomes evident. He criticizes Dickie's education and marriage, believing they have led him astray from the values of hard work and practicality. The story explores themes of legacy, familial duty, and the clash between traditional values and modern sensibilities. Sir Anthony's determination to control his final arrangements reflects his lifelong assertiveness in business and life. The narrative culminates in a poignant confrontation between the father's expectations and the son's perceived failures, ultimately leading to a resolution that underscores the complexities of their relationship and the inevitability of death.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1930 · Genre: Drama, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction · 3,431 words
First lines
I've paid for your sickest fancies; I've humoured your crackedest whim -- Dick, it's your daddy, dying; you've got to listen to him! Good for a fortnight, am I? The doctor told you? He lied. I shall go under by morning, and -- Put that nurse outside. 'Never seen death yet, Dickie? Well, now is your time to learn, And you'll wish you held my record before it comes to your turn. Not counting the Line and the Foundry, the yards and the village, too, I've made myself and a million; but I'm damned if I made you. Master at two-and-twenty, and married at twenty-three -- Ten thousand men on the pay-roll, and forty freighters at sea! Fifty years between 'em, and every year of it fight, And now I'm Sir Anthony Gloster, dying, a baronite: For I lunched with his Royal 'Ighness -- what was it the papers a-had? "Not least of our merchant-princes. " Dickie, that's me, your dad! _I_ didn't begin with askings. _I_ took my job and I stuck; And I took the chances they wouldn't, an' now they're calling it luck. Lord, what boats I've handled -- rotten and leaky and old! Ran 'em, or -- opened the bilge-cock, precisely as I was told. Grub that 'ud bind you crazy, and crews that 'ud turn you grey, And a big fat lump of insurance to cover the risk on the way. The others they dursn't do it; they said they valued their life (They've served me since as skippers). _I_ went, and I took my wife. Over the world I drove 'em, married at twenty-three, And your mother saving the money and making a man of me.
What this Textopian page supports
The "Mary Gloster" is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Adventure
- Length: 3,431 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The "Mary Gloster" by Rudyard Kipling
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Wreck Of The Golden Mary by Charles Dickens
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- There Is Sorrow On The Sea by Gilbert Parker
- The Friend Of Paul by Frederic Manning
Genres
- Drama — The narrative centers around intense personal and familial conflict, particularly between Sir Anthony Gloster and his son, exploring themes of legacy, responsibility, and the human condition.
- Literary Fiction — The work delves into complex character development and moral dilemmas, characteristic of literary fiction, with a focus on the protagonist's introspection and life choices.
- Historical Fiction — Set against a backdrop of maritime trade and industry, the story reflects historical elements of the shipping industry and societal norms of the time.
- Poetry — The text employs a rhythmic and lyrical style, resembling poetry in its use of meter and rhyme, enhancing the emotional weight of the dialogue.
Tags
ship · maritime · adventure · sea · fate · loss · identity · journey · conflict · human nature · survival · exploration