Podcast
Questions and Answers
What did the skipper's wife wish to do with the blue stones?
What did the skipper's wife wish to do with the blue stones?
The skipper believed the figurehead had blue eyes akin to his wife’s.
The skipper believed the figurehead had blue eyes akin to his wife’s.
True
What did the skipper do when he helped the old native king?
What did the skipper do when he helped the old native king?
He helped him flee traitors.
The figurehead represents the skipper's _____ for his wife.
The figurehead represents the skipper's _____ for his wife.
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What did the skipper's wife replace the blue stones with?
What did the skipper's wife replace the blue stones with?
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Match the characters with their actions:
Match the characters with their actions:
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The skipper's wife was pleased with the figurehead.
The skipper's wife was pleased with the figurehead.
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What happened to the skipper's wife's eyesight after she replaced the stones?
What happened to the skipper's wife's eyesight after she replaced the stones?
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Study Notes
The Blue Stones - Study Notes
- A skipper named his ship after his wife, with a figurehead carved like her.
- His wife was jealous, feeling neglected in favor of the ship.
- The figurehead is described as having hair, full-bosomed, and graceful, resembling her.
- She felt the ship represented her and the captain's affection more than she did.
- During a trade at Trankebar, he helped an old king flee.
- The king rewarded him with two precious blue stones.
- He placed them in the figurehead, like eyes.
- His wife asked for the stones to be earrings.
- He refused, saying she wouldn't understand.
Wife's Jealousy and the Ship
- The wife's jealousy is a central theme.
- The ship's figurehead represents her, but not her in the way she desired.
- The figurehead embodies what the skipper finds more important.
- The wife's desire for the stones suggests a desire for something that would be more directly personally attached to her, not just associated.
The Blue Stones as Symbols
- The blue stones represent a different kind of affection for the skipper.
- He saw the stones, not as something the wife could wear, but as representing the ship and her beauty in a way that could not be matched.
- The wife's desire for the stones as earrings highlights a fundamental conflict in their relationship.
- It could indicate a need for tangible things that represent her place as his beloved.
Loss and Blindness
- The wife's jealousy and unhappiness caused to her blindness.
- Her ship was wrecked, likely as a result of her unrequited demands.
Allegory
- The story is an allegory potentially about emotional relationships.
- It likely critiques the need for tangible symbols in relationships.
- The wife's eventual blindness is symbolic of her emotional blindness and inability to appreciate the value of her relationship.
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Description
Explore the complex themes of jealousy and identity in 'The Blue Stones'. This study focuses on a skipper, his wife, and their relationship with the ship named after her. It delves into the symbolism of the figurehead and the blue stones, highlighting the emotional depth of the characters.
