The hidden hand

I wanted to focus on the relationship between Capitola and Old Hurricane because I felt the relationship between two strong and distinct characters is important within this story, but also within the other stories we have read this semester.
As soon as Old Hurricane decided to take responsibility for Capitola you feel an instant connection between the two. It felt like both characters were able to bring happiness to the other. Old Hurricane was able to provide food as well as a father figure for Capitola. As Capitola states in the story “how much happier from the contrast of her previous wretchedness, to be suddenly freed from want, toil, fear and all the evils of destitute orphanage…”(p.188)Capitola gains so much from Old Hurricane who seems to have everything. Even though he is wealthy, up until Capitola enters his life the author portrays him as a grumpy old man who typically does not treat others well. Once Capitola enters the story all of a sudden you get Old Hurricane laughing and taking pity on the poor child. “How soft those gray eyes looked when praying” (p. 189) All of a sudden the man who seemed so unpleasant and terrible isn’t so bad. I felt the change seen in Old Hurricane reflects part of the role of children in literature. We talked in class about how if you hear about a child being mistreated or living in horrible conditions you instantly feel terrible and want to help, and it seems the same feelings occur in literature. Not only as the reader, does your heart go out to poor Capitola, but the characters with in the story also feel terrible for children. Old Hurricane has been grumpy and bitter for years and all it took was a little girl to bring about a subtle change in his character.
We have seen this occur in the other stories as well. True Flinn instantly feels sorry for Gerty after seeing her cry and begins to make life changes in order to keep and assist her. There is something about the innocence of a child that makes characters want to change and take on that parenting role. Something else that was interesting about the relationship is that like Gerty and True it was like a father daughter relationship; however, neither girl would call the man father but rather uncle. In Wide Wide World the father plays almost no role in Ellen’s life, and in the next two stories the men who could play father roles don’t want to be called father. The minute Capitola days “Yes father” Uncle Hurricane says “ No, no you needn’t call me father, you know, because it isn’t true. Call me uncle.” (p.188) I just found it interesting because He is taking on the fatherly role, as well as changing his attitude, but does not want the title of father.