Theme Of The Loons

Connection of Piquette and the Loons
In “The Loons” by Margaret Laurence, focus is often pulled towards the loons that inhabit Diamond Lake, and the odd character that is Piquette. Even without knowing the author’s background or credentials – Laurence, a well-known Canadian author that tends to write stories that deal with hard-hitting, ethical topics – one can assume that Piquette and the loons are somehow connected in an underlying theme of the story. At the end of the story when the lake, and area surrounding it, has been transformed into a tourist trap, is when it becomes clearer the type of connection Laurence may have been making. At the end of the story when Vanessa finds out what has become of Piquette, the story immediately transitions

Piquette is first introduced as, “….a vaguely embarrassing presence, with her hoarse voice and her clumsy limping walk and her grimy cotton dresses that were always miles too long” (Laurence, 986). Vanessa does not describe Piquette as a fun person to be seen with, or be friends with. Now compare Piquette with the loons. They are also given much the same description: ululating and plaintive cries. It goes on saying how, “…. those voices belonged to a world separated by aeons from our neat world of summer cottages and the lighted lamps of home” (Laurence, 989). Neither the loons or Piquette belong. The word aeons also catches my attention. It makes me think that Vanessa does not even believe that loons belong in the same time period as the clean-cut society that was growing right there at Diamond Lake. This connects to Piquette as well because throughout the story she, and the culture she represents, seem to be alienated. Early on in the story, the long-gone relatives of Piquette are referred to as, “….neither flesh, fowl, or good salt herring” (Laurence, 985). Simply put: the people regard them as worthless people that have no business trying to blend in with what is