The Cay

The Cay examines the effects of over-protecting children and, in turn, the benefits of exposing them—to certain extent—to hardship. Phillip’s mother tends to coddle him, trying to keep him away from a number of things that he eventually must face in the aftermath of the shipwreck. Timothy, on the other hand, expects Phillip to confront certain dangers (within reason), and this ultimately benefits Phillip.

The book does not claim that all efforts to protect children…

When Phillip Enright finds himself shipwrecked and castaway on a life raft with a Black sailor Timothy, he looks closely at the older man’s face and judges it harshly. He considers Timothy’s features ugly because his mother has taught him to dislike and distrust Black people. Months later, after Timothy praises him for his newfound bravery, Phillip recalls Timothy’s face only to discover that it has changed, growing softer and more beautiful in his…

Initially, it seems as if the two castaways of The Cay could not be more different. Yet, as they try to survive against the odds, they must pool their knowledge and draw on their shared experiences. At first, Phillip feels above Timothy because of a racist sense of entitlement and superiority, taking pride in the fact that he is better educated. This becomes especially clear when Phillip realizes Timothy cannot read. At the same time…