From the beginning of the story we are made aware of the strong relationship between Andrina and the Old Seaman. Andrina’s role in the relationship is that of a selfless carer: she puts his needs before her own. Andrina carries out many small tasks for the old seaman. “She lights my lamp,sets the peat fire in a blaze, sees there is enough water in my bucket that stands on the wall niche”. The relationship between Andrina and the old seaman is characterized by the author’s use of symbolism of the elements to create the spiritual atmosphere, which is present throughout the entire story. The reference to the four elements, two of which represent Andrina’s ghostly presence. These two are air and fire. The other two, more tangible elements represent the old seaman, earth and water. The author also uses the symbolism of light to show the way in which Andrina brightens his life. This use of symbolism heightens the reader’s enjoyment by appealing to the senses.
The second paragraph contains the narrative hook which introduces the turning point in the relationship of the two main characters and enhances the central mystery surrounding Andrina. The change in their relationship comes about when Andrina fails to visit the old sea captian. “Andrina did not come that afternoon” – It is the first time she has not visited him and significantly, on this occasion he falls ill. Mackay Brown uses metaphorical language to demonstrate the extent of the fever affecting the captain. “I accepted that afternoon, when the window was blackness at last with a first salting of stars.” This is the first example of Mackay Browns use of this device to convey the dark, cold loneliness felt by the captain when his visitor fails to come. This particular device is continued throughout the next part of the story, as his condition deteriorates. During his illness and time alone he reflects over experiences which are painful for him to remember. One such painful memory haunts him that night - “experienced, over again, some of the dull sordid events of my life, one certain episode was repeated again and again like an ancient gramophone record being put on time after time and a rusty needle scuttling over worn wax” This extended image is very effective in suggesting the depth of his remorse, therefore, adding to the mystery as the reader wants to know what he is so upset by. After the captain has had time to reflect he feels “ghosts” of his past have been resurrected. Eventually sleep prevails but the ghosts remain.
Following on from his illness, the old sea captain goes in search of his missing visitor, in the village. The development of the story adds to the suspense which is slowly building up throughout his search. It is not until he begins to enquire about his visitor that he realises there are questions he never felt the need to ask Andrina. At the time of her visits the captain was content with her company and did not require any more information about her; “It was sufficient that she came every evening, soon after sunset, and performed her quiet ministrations, and then lingered a while.” Mackay Brown creates mystery to surround the character of Andrina by telling us she visits after sunset. As this has traditionally been considered a time of uncertainty and change it adds to the mysterious atmosphere and suspense of the short story.
When thinking of the questions he failed to ask Andrina he realised he had not told her of “ the episode” in his life which he is deeply ashamed of. The next part of the story is where Mackay Brown uses his most unusual literary technique, telling a story within a story. The language he uses in the imbedded narrative creates the atmosphere of a fairytale. The opening to the embedded narrative is very similar to the open of a children’s fairytale; “In the island, 50 years ago a young man and a young woman came together”. The embedded narrative gives us an insight into his past telling us how one “single brief summer” romance changed his life forever, when his young love, Sigrid, fell pregnant. The love between the young captain and Sigrid is portrayed through romantic language. “the lingered enchantment of twilight”. This is a prime example of his use of emotive language to draw the reader into the intensity of the relationship. The embedded narrative, as well as giving us insight adds suspense as it interrupts the main story and sends the reader in another direction. It also enhances the mystery by placing more questions in the readers mind regarding the identity of Andrina.
When the old sea captain is alone he begins to worry that he has lost Andrina for ever. “What I dreaded to hear was that Andrina had suddenly fallen in love; her little rockpools of charity and kindness drowned in that incoming flood” This could be interpreted in two way, the first being the loss he would feel if Andrina had found someone else to care for. The second being that she might be hurt as he was in his past. It appears as if the old sea captain is reacting in a fatherly manner as he does not want her caring nature to be abused. The language Mackay Brown uses demonstrate the over whelming feeling of loss the captain is fearing. The words “drowned” and “flood” show the strength behind the feelings.
The story reaches a climax when the old captain finds an envelope “ lying on the table, unopened the letter had been delivered three mornings ago”. The letter had come from Sigrid telling the old Sea captain about the death of his grand-daughter, Andrina. The post mark on the envelope indicated it had been sent in October, months before Andrina visited him. In the contents of the letter Sigrid says “ she would have been a lamp in your winter, too”. Ironically this is exactly what Andrina was for the old man, as her regular visits brightened up his otherwise dull life.
Following on from this revelation one of George Mackay Browns most favoured themes, regeneration, provides a fitting resolution to the short story. The news which came in the letter allows the old sea captain to let go of his past and appreciated the physical elements of his life; “where she was dust, a new time was brightening earth and sea”. This line demonstrates how the old sea captain is letting go of the troubles which haunt him and the relationship with Andrina. This is very effective in giving resolution both to the old seaman and the reader. The short story has a suitably ambiguous ending as we do not know if Andrina’s presence was real or merely a figment of the lonely captains imagination. Nevertheless she certainly brightened up his winter.
In conclusion, the development of the mystery surrounding Andrina in the narrative creates suspense and makes Mackay Brown’s short story extremely satisfying. He successfully maintains a ghostly and mysterious atmosphere in this unnerving short story.