| The Big Young Hero: One who goes out at the beginning, comes in at the end, and appears unexpectedly all through. | ||
| Finn: Humanity, a long-suffering man. | ||
| The Carpenter: Duty, a scientific man. | ||
| The Tracker: Obedience, a dutiful man. | ||
| The Gripper: Constancy, a patient man. | ||
| The Climber: Faith, a girl who is more than quite all there. | ||
| The Thief: Love, an old woman wearing a chaperon. | ||
| The Listener: Hope, a boy wearing a smile. | ||
| The Marksman: Truth, a straightforward man carrying a bow and arrows. | ||
| The Giant: A mere notion. | ||
| The Dog: Fear (never visible). | ||
| Her Puppy, Bran: Joy. Given to Hope for the present. | ||
| The Baby: The Rest of Humanity. | ||
| Gonachry: The Heart-wounder, a sarcastic man. | ||
| Angus: A good-natured lazy man. | ||
| Torquil | } | Unemotional men. |
| Conan | } | |
| Condhla | } | |
About This Book
An allegorical fantasy adapted from a Scottish folktale that explores the psychology of faith through personified figures. In a luminous, otherworldly isle, symbolic characters such as Faith, Hope, Love, Truth, Fear, and a central youthful figure interact in dreamlike scenes and parable-like episodes, assembling a ship and confronting inner needs, duty, and desire. Through lyrical description and theatrical encounters the narrative traces efforts to protect and recover Joy for humanity, using folklore motifs and moral conversation to examine how belief, perseverance, obedience, and constancy shape the search for spiritual and emotional fulfillment.