The Secret Goldfish

The Secret Goldfish by David Means

The Secret Goldfish by David Means is a short story that depicts the difficulties of a family going through a divorce. David Means is a prolific novelist who has received numerous awards. The Hidden Goldfish is a story about a fractured family (Means). As such, this conversation focuses on The Hidden Goldfish’s use of symbols. The goldfish plays an important role in the progression of the story in this case since the author utilizes it to reflect the happenings around the family in the story. Furthermore, the report emphasizes a social issue that surrounds weddings.

Divorce as a Social Problem

Divorce, as a social problem, has a negative impact on families. According to Fagan and Churchill (1), divorce has irreparable harm to families, particularly to children. Moreover, it damages the society affecting social capital. Divorce due to extramarital affairs affects approximately one million children every year in America (Fagan and Churchill 2). Statistics also reveal that almost 17 percent of divorce cases stem from extramarital affairs (Divorce Statistics ). Divorce and other family problems affect the future competence of children. As such, this story is relevant in the contemporary society because of the increase in number of divorce cases. Although in the previous decades, the culture in America disallowed divorce, the current culture celebrates the practice (Fagan and Churchill 1).

Introduction and the Role of the Goldfish

Means introduces the story with a narration that seems to captivate the reader. He explains that children are always excited with the ideas of keeping pets such as dogs and fish (Means). The story begins with how a family acquires a goldfish during children’s field trip. “.....Pet Universe had given free goldfish to all the kids...” After a few years, the goldfish overgrows forcing the mother of the kids to acquire a large tank with a figurine. The woman picks up a habit of watching the fish every evening. One day, the woman notices her husband looking agitated and concludes that he is disturbed emotionally. After this observation, the fish’s tank begins to darken. The author uses this gloomy symbol to represent the darkness that engulfs the house that was once bright with love (Means). The wife recollects the early days and the happiness that she once shared with her husband.

The Impact of Divorce on Families

Divorce causes hopelessness in families and causes individuals to recognize their identity. Within two months, the flow clogged resulting in the growth of green silk on the waterfall and thickening of the murk. The fish in despair became hopeless. “...became a sad, hopeless entity curled into his plight...” The fish became aware of its identity. He realized that the presence of the big tank does not solve his endless problems and guarantee him freedom (Means). In the same way, the wife realizes that although she sacrificed her progress for the sake of the family, the family still breaks apart. The fish feels betrayed. The author uses this feeling to symbolize the betrayal in the heart of the wife. Moreover, no one is around to watch the fish and see his misery. He feels that he is left alone.

The Causes of Divorce

The causes of divorce sometimes go unnoticed. Although the mother had noticed the murk in the tank, she was not interested in solving the problem. Ted, her son, notices the mess and raises his concern to his mother. This action awakens the mother and forces her to clean the tank. She soon realizes that life is sustainable even in disgusting circumstances. This symbolizes her own life. Although her husband is in an illicit affair with another woman, she hardly notices (Means). Everyone is aware of this relationship. Other people seem surprised when she takes long to realize. She seems to acknowledge the existence of a supernatural power.

The Hardships of Divorce

Although divorce is painful, the process hardens up individuals. The author uses the goldfish to show that the woman’s condition is sustainable. The woman’s situation seems hopeless and makes her sad just like the fish before his rescue. This idea works because the fish’s survival awakens hope in the woman. As such, as the woman continued with her rescue mission, she realizes that a certain tool in the assembly is crucial for the survival of the fish. In the same way, her husband’s affair with another woman seems to be threatening the husband. The malfunctioning of the tool in the fish’s assembly risked the survival of the fish. Means uses this aspect to symbolize the effect of the affair to the marriage and the family.

The Frustration of the Divorce Process

The events that precede a divorce process are always frustrating. The fish’s condition worsens again symbolizes the situation in the house. “...then the tank fell back into its murk, got worse, stank up...” More darkness fills the hearts of the occupants of the house, especially the woman (Wood 39). Although the situation around the fish looks grim, the fish is determined to live. The fish ensured that he had sufficient oxygen. Being a mudfish also gave him an advantage. In the same way, the kids’ mother was experiencing insufficient oxygen in her marriage. She watches as her husband packs his belongings ready to leave their marital home. The author seems to be comparing their two situations. In this regard, the divorce process and experience are as murky as the fish’s tank.

The Loneliness of Divorce

Although divorce is a social experience, individuals going through the process tend to isolate themselves from the public. The woman in the story hardly shares her problems with anyone. In the same way, the goldfish stays hoping that Ted will convince his mother to clean his habitat and free him from darkness and murky conditions. “...he did not die...” As such, it seems the woman has lost hope and she is ready to face life without a husband. The author uses the scene of a fish’s burial process to represent this decision. Although the fish is determined to stay alive, the mother has a contrary opinion. This scene enables the mother to seek to get the attention of her children. In this scenario, the mother is determined to teach them how to handle loss. The death of the goldfish in this scene symbolizes the absence of the father (Wood 40).

Teaching Children How to Deal with Divorce

The author uses the goldfish to teach the woman’s children the importance of bearing with loss and divorce. The children kept the goldfish as a pet; it served an important aspect in their lives, and they adore him. In the same way, their father is a crucial person in the lives of both the woman and the children. The father plays an important role in the family and home. As such, although the woman wants to prepare her children for the new life in the absence of their father, she uses the goldfish to help the children deal with the situation in a proper manner. Through this scene, the woman seems to be a good mother.

Starting Anew After Divorce

Families need to learn to recover from a divorce process. The fish is still alive, and the new family holds a party to acknowledge his resurrection. The fact that the fish remained alive symbolizes the coming back of the father into the lives of the children and their mother. In the story, no one has been bothering to check on the fish. “...No one seemed available to witness these outward glances...” They recognize that the fish is still there with them. The new family seeks to give the fish a new home and new conditions where he will enjoy his freedom.

Recovering and Accepting Change

Divorce forces families to start life afresh. After the party, they move the fish’s tank carefully to the family room near the television set. This scene symbolizes that the children and their mother acknowledge the presence of the goldfish. “...they’ll hold small a small party to celebrate his resurrection...” They agree to work together in the absence of the father. They seem to be recovering from the divorce and accepting the new conditions. Although their father moves out leaving some vacuum and feelings of betrayal, they choose to be strong (Means). In this case, the mother succeeds in helping the children deal with the loss.

Conclusion

The Secret Goldfish is a story that revolves around a family that manages to survive many struggles. Although the family goes through a divorce problem, it manages to remain positive. In the story, the goldfish seems to be going through similar experiences. The author uses the goldfish to symbolize that there is still hope even in the hardest struggles. Even though the father of the house leaves for another woman, Means uses the experiences of the goldfish to remind the family to remain optimistic.

Works Cited

Fagan , Patrick F. and Aaron Churchill. “The Effects of Divorce on Children.” Marriage and Religion Research Institute (2012): 1-48.

Means, David. “The Secret Goldfish.” New Yorker Magazine 31 May 2004. .

Wood, James. “Overloaded with Wasps: The Secret Goldfish by David Means.” London Review of Books 27.6 (2005): 39-40.