The complete loss of vision is not itself a sudden onset, however, as previous to this complete loss he has had to deal with his ability to see severely compromised by blurriness in the form of a haze coming over his field of vision. But then, almost out of nowhere, suddenly Philip’s ordeal is really put to the test by waking up one morning to discovered he has gone completely blind. How does Philip, the narrator, lose his sight?īeing just eleven years old and stranded on a desert island with a complete stranger whose ethnicity you have been taught to fear would be more than enough to create a sense of drama and conflict.

We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. GradeSaver, 20 March 2022 Web.These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Next Section Character List Previous Section About The Cay How To Cite in MLA Format Mina, Arakim. Will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

You can help us out by revising, improving and updatingĪfter you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Philip wishes to become an explorer in an effort to find the island he was stuck on with Timothy. Later, he is rescued by a navy ship.Īfter coming back to the mainland, Philip spends a long time in the hospital attempting to regain his eyesight. This event leaves Philip utterly devastated. Unfortunately, Timothy is unable to withstand the weather and dies. In time, they build a rapport as Timothy teaches Philip how to survive.Ī violent hurricane hits the tiny island, which destroys everything in its path. Timothy, being the adult, overlooks Philip's prejudice against him. Philip had been influenced by his racist mother to hate people of color. The longer they stay together, the more they realize they can't stand each other. After two months have passed and the possibility of being rescued becomes slim, they settle into their new home. Together, they gather supplies and build a shelter.Īs days go by, they keep track of how many days they have been trapped on the Island.

They drift at sea for days until they reach an uninhabited Island. Philip manages to get on a floating wreck with Timothy, an old man of African descent, and a cat. While attempting to leave in a ship heading to Virginia, one of the German submarines fires a torpedo that sinks the ship. German submarines surround the island of Curaçao. Philip Enright lives in Curaçao with his mother as Germany Invades Poland, starting World War II. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor