Student Question
What are the narrator's two conflicting desires in "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant"? Is his choice believable?
Quick answer:
The narrator experiences two conflicting desires: impressing Sheila Mant, his crush, and his passion for fishing. Although he is thrilled when Sheila agrees to a date, his love for fishing complicates matters as she dislikes it. When he hooks a large bass during their outing, he chooses to impress Sheila by letting the fish go. This choice is believable, reflecting the common adolescent struggle to prioritize social approval over personal interests.
The narrator of "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" is a 14-year-old boy who has a major crush on his neighbor, the Sheila of the title, who is 16. He asks her out on a date. He also very much enjoys fishing, so he asks her to go fishing with him.
The desire to spend time with a girl and the desire to fish need not necessarily conflict. However, Sheila does not share his enthusiasm. Although she accepts his invitation and they go out, she is not comfortable on his boat. The narrator finds it more challenging to divide his attention than he expected. Even though he hooks a large bass, ultimately his desire to impress an older girl overrides his desire to land he fish, and he lets it go. This choice would probably seem believable to anyone who has ever been an adolescent with a crush.
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