Jordan Gotchy -- Phillip's Journey

The Cay

Phillip’s Journey

By Jordan Gotchy

In The Cay our hero, Phillip, leaves home with his mother because of World War II. He is then separated from her when the S.S. Hato is torpedoed. He is brought aboard a raft by Timothy. During the next few months many things occur that transform Phillip into a mature man. He creates a better world for himself because he overcame his prejudices.

Phillip’s mother was scared of the war in Willemstad. She decided that she and Phillip would return to Norfolk, Virginia. They say farewell to Phillip’s father and then boards the S.S. Hato. While aboard, the boat is torpedoed by German U-boats.

Phillip wakes up on a raft with an old black man named Timothy. The two of them stay adrift on the raft for several days while Phillip acts distasteful toward Timothy for the color of his skin and the way he rations the little food and water they have. While on the raft, Phillip loses his sense of sight, making the situation more difficult for the both of them. After about another day, they find a small island where they decide to stay.

Timothy –and Phillip- immediately get to work. While on the island, they build a shelter, a water catching trough, a signal fire, and a help sign. Phillip’s senses of touch and hear start making up for his sight, but Timothy still has to do much of the work. One morning Timothy wakes up with a dire fever and cannot move. The two of them rest for the day.

Timothy is fine the next morning, but not as strong as he was before he became sick. He is worried that he may die. For Phillip’s sake, Timothy teaches him several things in order for Phillip to survive in the unfortunate, but likely event of Timothy’s death. Phillip learns how to fish and is now unafraid of climbing palm to retrieve coconuts.

One day Timothy listens to everything around him. He recognizes the noises: a hurricane is coming. Timothy preps their belongings and they wait for the hurricane. The hurricane reaches the island and floods it. The rain and wind was so harsh, their clothes were torn by it, and Timothy had to cover Phillip with his body. When the hurricane was over, Phillip realized that Timothy had died from the harsh storm. Phillip lives on the island for a few more days. He makes a signal fire that burns black smoke, and lights it when he hears an aircraft. In just a few hours, a boat picks him up.

He returns to Willemstad and after three operations, he regains his eyesight. Now, after knowing a black man and understanding that they are not a bad people, he speaks to the colored folk where he lives because he no longer believes that colored people should be avoided or treated differently from him.

Phillip’s story demonstrates an exact hero’s journey. During his voyage he overcomes fear and prejudiced views with help from Timothy. Phillip proves himself to be a true, epic hero.