Abel's Island

Before Abel’s life is turned upside down by the storm, he enjoys a self-absorbed life of wealth and leisure. Abel defines himself by his pedigree, as evidenced by his long surname and by his marriage to Amanda. However, one year of solitude on an island forces Abel to reevaluate his priorities and who he is as a mouse. Once Abel settles into the slower pace of island life and lives in the present moment, he has time for introspection, which opens him to self-discovery and change. Through the mind of a mouse, the author explores the complex emotions that arise when sudden change forces an individual to reconceive their place in the world. When he sets to work immediately planning and engineering an escape, Abel’s abilities surprise him.

Though Abel becomes more comfortable as an outdoorsman, he is less quick to adapt to the prolonged isolation of a castaway’s life. Solitude becomes a crucible for Abel’s character change. Stripped of the distractions of his aristocratic life, Abel must confront his fears, insecurities, and deepest longings: “Rain caused one to reflect on the shadowed, more poignant parts of life—the inescapable sorrows, the speechless longings, the disappointments, the regrets, the cold miseries” (48). Observing the majesty of nature in the wonder of the night sky or the brilliance of an icicle gives Abel a lesson in perspective. Though small in stature, Abel once lived a big life full of luxury and comfort. Understanding his place in the circle of life provides a new point of view from which to understand his purpose. This new understanding liberates Abel’s creativity and unlocks new aspects of his personality as evidenced by his new interest in sculpting and painting. Humbled by the demands of survival, Abel’s arrogance and entitlement give way to an unassuming willingness to learn. Abel not only marvels at his physical strength but also understands that the island is challenging him to think: “He was pleased with the way his mind was working” (19). By fashioning tools, building a shelter, and teaching himself to sculpt and paint, Abel discovers new parts of himself that renew his vitality and self-esteem.

Abel’s journey to self-discovery on the island reaches its pinnacle with the arrival of Gower. Often someone needs an outside force for validation, and when Gower declares Abel’s sculptures works of art, he helps Abel define himself and his purpose in life. Once Gower reshapes Abel’s definition of work, he understands himself as an artist and his new sense of purpose makes him feel more aligned with the universe: “Now he liked to lie in the warm sun on the open patches of ground and be part of the world’s awakening” (82-83). The island, no longer a prison or a proving ground, is Abel’s sanctuary, a place where he finds and understands his truest self. Abel’s most profound act of self-assuredness comes when he abandons the hope of being found and instead rescues himself. Though he wonders how his life will be different when he returns, Abel walks back into his village a more resilient, self-assured mouse who will be a better friend and husband.