Big Fish

Big Fish

by

Daniel Wallace

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Big Fish: Part 2: My Father’s Death: Take 2 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
William says “it happens like this.” Dr. Bennett, the “older than old” family doctor comes out the guest room and says there’s nothing he can do. William and his mother have been expecting this. They sigh, with a mixture of sadness and relief. Edward’s been dying for so long that it seemed he might just have kept on “dying forever.” William’s mother suggests going in first, and agrees to call William if anything happens. They speak in unfinished phrases, skirting around the topic. She goes in, and comes out a few minutes later, crying. It’s William’s turn. 
William describes Edward’s death a second time, this time in a slightly different way. The beginning part of this story is practically the same: William and William’s mother feel deep pain, emphasizing their love for Edward. Their sense of relief also implies that both find it difficult to see Edward wither. It’s almost as if they wish for Edward’s suffering to be over, because it seems so out of character for such a larger-than-life person to disintegrate slowly before them.
Themes
Ambition, Courage, and Personal Fulfilment Theme Icon
Love, Flaws, and Acceptance Theme Icon
The curtains are drawn and room is dim and gray, like an afternoon nap. Edward looks happy, sad, tired, and blessed—and sort of “curdled”—all at once. Edward drinks water shakily, dribbling a little and apologizing, with a pained look on his face. William reassures Edward that he’s been a trooper through his illness, feeling more like the father than the son. Edward cracks a joke about the guest room being ready for guests again soon. He moved there when he got sick so that it won’t be hard for William’s mother to face an empty bed after he dies. William wonders what you’re supposed to say in the last minutes that mark the boundary between someone’s life and death.
William’s description of Edward as “curdled” shows how much Edward’s condition has deteriorated in his illness. Despite this, Edward is thirsty for water, which, given its symbolic significance throughout the novel, represents his effort to keep connecting with life, even in his dying moments. Edward cracks a joke to help ease William’s pain, but William can’t connect with the value of this quite yet. Instead, he’s overcome with the profound seriousness and unsettling nature of his father’s dying moments.
Themes
Love, Flaws, and Acceptance Theme Icon
The Redemptive Power of Laughter Theme Icon
William reflects that he thought he’d spend today in the pool before because Edward likes the sound of splashing water. Slowly, Edward says “I’ll miss you,” and William responds in turn. William wants to ask if Edward believes in an afterlife, but he hesitates. Everyone in the family knows it’s impossible to talk to Edward about “important” things. Eventually, William manages to ask if Edward believes in Heaven “and God and all that stuff.” Edward deflects and cracks a bad joke about a case of mistaken identity between Jesus and Pinocchio at the gates of Heaven. William persists, desperate to have one meaningful conversation with Edward before he dies.
William’s plan to swim for his father so that Edward can hear the splashing sounds re-emphasizes Edward’s desire to connect with life no matter what state of deterioration he is in. William is frustrated because he craves meaningful interaction with his father, and for William, that means direct, honest conversation. Edward, on the other hand, prefers to crack jokes because he wants to bring lightness into the situation and ease William’s pain.
Themes
Love, Flaws, and Acceptance Theme Icon
Edward shifts uncomfortably. He’s never felt comfortable facing the question. Some days he does believe in God, some days he’s more ambivalent. Right now, he thinks a joke is better—at least he'll make William laugh. William disagrees, saying a meaningful conversation is something he can carry with him. Edward quips that jokes are better than doubts. Edward grips William’s hand, saying, “I was a good dad.” William corrects Edward, saying “you are a good dad.” Edward’s eyelids flutter and William asks what Edward believes about God today, but Edward seems faraway. William frantically urges Edward for an answer. Edward opens his eyes, and William leans in. With a sense of urgency, Edward says, “Pinocchio?”
Wallace emphasizes the dissonance between William and Edward’s views about meaningful interaction. William sees little value in cracking jokes, because he finds them trivial, and he thinks Edward uses jokes to deflect from bonding. For Edward, however, jokes are such an integral part of who he is that he can’t help but joke. Despite William’s reluctance to accept this aspect of Edward’s personality, Edward’s intentions are good—though William can’t see it yet—as Edward wants William to remember him in a happy and light way, rather than tragic and somber one.
Themes
Love, Flaws, and Acceptance Theme Icon
The Redemptive Power of Laughter Theme Icon
Quotes
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