THE USE OF RITE OF PASSAGE IN “THE FOUND BOAT”

In the story, “The Found Boat,” by Alice Munro, Eva, one of the main characters, experiences a rite of passage by the end of the story. This rite of passage can be more easily identified as growing up, which is, in essence, what Eva experiences. However, such process occurs during a prolonged period of time and it culminates with the children’s epiphany at the end of their journey to the station.
In the beginning of the story, the girls almost completely ignore the boys as they make their way to the lake. However, the girls seem to secretly enjoy the boys, especially how the boys treat them. When the girls spot the boat, they tell the boys, guessing that the boys will dismiss their claim and make fun of them. But the story reads differently: “What surprised them [the girls] in the first place was that the boys really did come.” As time passes and the children spend most of their time together repairing the boat, the bonds between them grow stronger. Essentially, the girls create a connection with the boys by discovering the boat. The boat becomes a uniting factor between the children for they all feel as if each owns a little piece of the boat. If it had not been for the boat and the connection it creates between the children, the environment necessary for Eva to undergo her rite of passage would never have occurred because she would not have had sufficient contact with Clayton, who at this point Eva clearly likes. The biggest clue to Eva’s attraction to Clayton comes when Eva enters the kitchen and engages Clayton’s mother. The story says: “…Eva, who had been brought up to talk politely to parents, even wash-and-iron ladies, and who for some reason especially wanted to make a good impression on Clayton’s mother.” Indeed, Eva comes to realize she likes Clayton, the first step in her rite of passage.
Eventually, the day all of the children are waiting for comes, the day to use the boat. The children go down river and get to the station. Once there, they begin to play Truth or Dare. Then, Frank dares all to take off all their clothes. This dare is a curious dare because its execution requires a sense of maturity. Everyone sits quietly until, not surprisingly enough, Eva accepts the dare for everyone by asking “what first.” By taking the initiative to perform the dare, Eva demonstrates that she has changed. Whereas Carol is very apprehensive, Eva is relaxed and determined to do what she feels is natural. As the children run about naked on the river bank, they portray their newfound freedom. They have cast off their clothes, a symbol of repression, and have begun to live life as they want to, not as their parents do, at least for a small period of time. The story says: “They [the children] felt as if they were going to jump off a cliff and fly. They felt that something was happening to them different from anything that had happened before, and it had to do with the boat, the water, the sunlight, the dark ruined station, and each other.” In that amount of time, they experience firsthand what it means to be free, all thanks to Eva.
Nevertheless, not all rites of passage lead to pleasant experiences, and this story is no exception. For Eva, her rite of passage comes with an unpleasant, perhaps even heartbreaking, experience. While in the lake, Eva and Clayton meet face to face. The story says: “Eva did not turn or try to hide; she was quivering from the cold of the water, but also with pride, shame, boldness, and exhilaration.” For Eva, this is the moment she has been waiting for, a moment to engage Clayton and to see what he will do. However, Clayton is still caught up in his boyhood and spits water at Eva, an action expected from a child. For Eva, Clayton’s gesture is both humiliating and shattering, but it is also the catalyst of Eva’s rite of passage. As the boys leave, Carroll approaches Eva and asks her what Clayton had done. Eva answers “nothing.” From this response, it is evident Eva has undergone a rite of passage. She now has the maturity to accept reality and to cope with what has happened. She also understands that Clayton is still a child and that she cannot expect much more from him. Therefore, Eva considers Clayton’s action nothing, a judgment which reflects Eva’s new reasoning.
In conclusion, the use of rite of passage in this story is ingenious. By having one character experience a rite of passage while others do not, the author reflects the realities and the complexities of life. Nevertheless, the author simplifies the basic idea of rite of passage by having it occur to a young adult. Although Eva is disillusioned by Clayton, she can celebrate her newfound outlook on life and her new understanding of the world and its functions. For now, Eva will just have to wait for Clayton. Indeed, Eva knows that just as she has had her rite of passage, so too will Clayton.