Blueback Chapter 12 Audio

Summary

Abel Jackson, a marine biologist, travels the world studying oceans and seas, becoming an expert in his field. Despite his success, he feels like a boy still trying to understand the underwater world. A pivotal moment comes when he realizes he's older than his father, who died tragically young. Abel is deeply connected to the ocean, especially the blueback fish, and is affected by environmental issues such as pollution and oil spills. As he travels with his wife, Stella, to study ecosystems, he continues to reflect on his home and the looming challenges facing the world's waters.

Takeaways

• 😀 Abel Jackson became a marine biologist, eventually marrying another marine biologist named Stella.
• 😀 Abel traveled and studied diving in all the oceans and seas of the world, becoming an expert in his field.
• 😀 Despite his expertise, Abel still felt like a boy with a snorkel, struggling to understand the underwater world.
• 😀 While diving in the Greek Islands, Abel had a moment of realization when he realized he was older than his father.
• 😀 Abel’s father, who had been killed by a tiger shark, remained forever young in Abel's memories.
• 😀 Upon returning to his hotel, Abel found a diving magazine featuring Blueback, the large fish he had studied, and a letter from his mother.
• 😀 Abel’s mother expressed concerns over the increasing number of divers coming to swim with Blueback, some of whom were spearing fish.
• 😀 A month later, Abel witnessed the near-disaster of an oil tanker breaking apart off the coast of Longboat Bay, nearly leading to an environmental catastrophe.
• 😀 Despite the oil spill’s proximity to disaster, no oil ever reached the shore, which Abel recognized as a lucky turn of events.
• 😀 Abel’s mother warned him about the environmental risks while he traveled around the world with Stella, studying polluted ecosystems.
• 😀 Abel frequently thought about his home and the environmental challenges it faced, feeling Blueback’s presence in his dreams.

Q & A

What is Abel Jackson's profession, and how did his career evolve?

Abel Jackson is a marine biologist who became an expert in his field. He traveled and studied diving in oceans and seas worldwide. Over time, he was invited to give lectures and conduct studies for foreign governments.

What personal feelings does Abel Jackson experience despite his professional success?

Despite his expertise, Abel still feels like a boy with a snorkel, staring at the underwater world, wishing he understood how it works. He is haunted by a sense of not fully understanding the mysteries of the sea.

What significant realization does Abel Jackson have while diving in the Greek Islands?

While diving in the Greek Islands, Abel realizes that he is now older than his father was when he died. This realization is a cold shock to him, as his father had always been a young man in his memory.

What is the significance of the diving magazine Abel finds in his hotel room?

The diving magazine features a picture of Blueback, the big fish Abel has always been fascinated with. This symbolizes the continuing allure of the underwater world, as well as a personal connection to his past and his mother's worries about the fish's safety.

How does Abel Jackson's mother react to the news of the oil tanker disaster?

Abel's mother cries when she hears his voice after the oil tanker disaster. She views the event as a warning about the vulnerability of their coastal environment and the dangers of pollution.

What environmental concerns are raised in the script?

The script raises concerns about pollution, particularly from dynamite fishing and oil spills, as well as the threat these pose to marine ecosystems. Abel is concerned about the ongoing damage to coral atolls, estuaries, and the sea life that depends on them.

What is the meaning of the 'big blue fish' in the context of the script?

The 'big blue fish' refers to Blueback, the large fish that Abel is emotionally connected to. It represents Abel's bond with the underwater world and the looming threat of environmental destruction that he is constantly aware of, even in his sleep.

What role does Abel's wife, Stella, play in the story?

Stella, Abel's wife, is also a marine biologist. She travels with him as they work in various marine environments around the world, sharing in his concerns about the state of the oceans and supporting his work.

How does the oil tanker disaster impact Abel Jackson emotionally?

The oil tanker disaster deeply affects Abel. He watches the events unfold from a hotel room far from home and becomes acutely aware of the potential for environmental catastrophe. This fuels his growing sense of urgency about the state of the oceans.

How does Abel's view of the world differ from his father's?

Abel's view of the world is shaped by his understanding of the fragility of marine life, while his father's death in a shark attack keeps him frozen in time as a young man. Abel's realization that he is older than his father marks a pivotal moment in his life, highlighting the passage of time and the loss of innocence.