Tragedy In Mermaids By Richard Van Camp

Tragedy acts as an antidote to human fallibility; it also warns individuals of the dire consequences of follies in a way that comedy cannot. It not only accentuates how a character of high rank falls from grace due to his or her character flaw, but also the downfall evokes the viewers’ emotional cleansing and purging. In Richard Van Camp’s short story, “Mermaids”, the main character “Torchy” is a native Indian who struggles to find a goal in life. To cope with the loss of his brother and his traumatic life, he abuses alcohol and drugs. “Mermaids” is not considered as a tragedy since the main character does not meet the requirements to be a tragic hero, he does not undergo anagnorisis, and the ending of the story does not culminate in catharsis.

Torchy, however, is someone from a lower class. When he visits his grandfather, his grandfather “[throws] in a pinch of tobacco and [begins] to pray in Dogrib” (5). Dogrib is a language spoken by a Dene Native people, and it indicates Touchy’s low social rank. Furthermore, Torchy reveals his is from a dysfunctional family when he describes himself as “a motherless child” (5). In addition to social importance, a tragic hero must show some goodness. Unfortunately, Torchy’s penchant for self-destruction does not earn respect from the readers. When Stephanie asks about his wound on his arm, he explains that he “[smolderes] them off with a car lighter”(2) and he “[likes] to burn things down”(2). Due to Torchy’s low social status and his conduct that offends readers’ moral sensibilities, he cannot be considered as a tragic

Anagnorisis is a process where the hero must realize his mistake and it's horrible results; also must face his own realization of personal culpability and error. However, there is no anagnorisis for Torchy. For instance, after he knew the medicine the old man gave him is expired and he begins choking on himself. Rather facing the truth of his downfall, he did not have the realization of his true nature, he hides his emotion, and begins flashbacks about his brother die with AIDS: “I remembered the night Sfen told me everything… ‘I have AIDs, Torchy. I [am] dying, I ran outta my pills yesterday, and I ain’t going to the drug store’ Sfen said.”(9). It accentuates the lack of epiphany from Torchy, he is escaping from the reality, and fascinating about the past. Furthermore, anagnorisis is the moment of revelation, realization and recognition. Also it is an epiphany that changes the plot and character’s fate. When Torchy was having flashbacks about his brother giving up with AIDS, and did not have more access to the medicine: “‘No’ I said. ‘Never, Sfen don’t talk like that!’ And that’s when I ran. I ran all the way up the road as far as I could. I ran until I puked. I was thinking this wasn’t happening. I kept waiting for someone to tell me this wasn’t real” (10). It highlights that Torchy is avoiding the truth, he runs away when his brother wasn’t feeling