The Great Wave (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Mary Lavin
- First Published: 1959
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: The early twentieth century
- Setting: West coast of Ireland
- Principal Characters: The bishop, Father Kane, Mary, Seoineen
- Genres: Social realism, Short fiction
- Subjects: Poverty or poor people, Islands, Accidents, Greed, Miracles, Catholics or Catholic Church, Ireland or Irish people, Fishing or fishermen, Priests, Clothing or dress, Waves
- Locales: Ireland
The Story
An Irish Roman Catholic bishop sits in the stern of a currach, a small skin-covered boat, wearing his robes and carrying his stiff ecclesiastical vestments inside out in order to protect them. Because he travels to this island only once every four years for a confirmation ceremony, it is fitting that he come in full pomp. His vestments are exceptionally beautiful, including a cope, a capelike garment made with threads of gold, which he commissioned from a convent in Switzerland.
Privately, the bishop, who was born on this poor island, marvels that he has ever...
[The entire page is 1444 words long]
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