53 pages • 1-hour read
The Simple Wild: A Novel
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Themes
The Healing Power of Familial Reconciliation to Overcome Estrangement
The novel begins by revealing the fracturing of the Fletcher family, which creates a physical and emotional chasm between Calla and her father, Wren. As an adult, Calla's relationship with her father is nearly non-existent, as she stopped speaking to him 12 years ago when he failed to make good on his promise to visit for her graduation. This physical and emotional distance creates a sense of estrangement that adversely affects Calla’s life. News of Wren’s terminal cancer prompts Calla to cross the divide and return to Alaska. Living in forced proximity to her estranged father forces Calla to confront her bitterness over the past and prompts Wren to make an earnest effort to get to know his daughter. At times, the experience feels overwhelming as Calla thinks, “How do you form a relationship with someone without forgiving them first?” (125). Calla and Wren's experience depicts the agony of estrangement and the challenging but rewarding journey to forgiveness and understanding.
Years of misunderstanding, unspoken grievances, and missed opportunities have created a wall of resentment and hurt and threaten Calla and Wren’s chances of reconciliation. Wren’s commitment to his life in Alaska, including his work as a bush pilot, clashes with his ability to be present for Calla, sparking her old feelings of abandonment. Additionally, Calla’s preconceived notions about her father, shaped by her mother’s perspective and her disappointments, make it difficult for her to see Wren’s true intentions and sacrifices. Through small moments of connection, like Wren sharing how he and Susan met, father and daughter gradually break down their emotional barriers. Shared experiences like working together at Alaska Wild, family dinners, and movie nights allow them to see each other differently. Agnes and Jonah aid in Wren and Calla’s reconciliation by encouraging them to be vulnerable, have honest conversations, and be willing to let go of the past. Through patience and acceptance, Calla realizes Wren’s deep love for her and his regret over their lost time. Calla begins to understand her father's sacrifices and the reasons behind his choices, fostering empathy for his humanity.
As Calla and Wren work over their prior grievances and understand one another better, their relationship evolves from estrangement to mutual respect and affection. Wren's cancer adds urgency to their reconciliation, making their time together even more valuable. Wren’s death leaves Calla deeply sad but with a sense of serenity and acceptance, emphasizing the necessity of forgiveness and the ability to heal even the most profound familial scars. The text explains the evolution of her feelings: “Pain that, oddly enough, has faded. Maybe with time. Or maybe with forgiveness that I’ve managed to find in all this” (370). Through doing the hard work of reconciling her relationship with Wren, Calla emerges, on the other side, a more empathetic and resilient person, which makes her a better partner for Jonah, allowing her to live a life free of emotional baggage and regret. Through the narrative and key characters’ growth, Tucker demonstrates that, while humbling and emotionally painful, reconciliation is achievable and can result in significant personal progress and emotional healing for family members.
Self-Discovery and Personal Growth Through Adversity
Calla’s Toronto life is comfortable but unfulfilling. She works in a profession she does not enjoy and has an unsatisfactory relationship with her boyfriend, Corey. Though Calla’s life is physically comfortable due to the care of her mother and stepfather, she senses something is missing. Her life is marked by a sense of detachment from both her inner self and her estranged father, Wren. This initial condition of professional and relational stagnation sets the setting for Calla's self-discovery, which takes her out of her comfort zone and into the unpredictable wildness of Alaska. Calla's decision to visit Wren in Alaska is the first significant step toward self-discovery. The emotional barrier between her and Wren is a major source of unresolved anguish and confusion. Faced with this estrangement head-on, Calla must reflect on her past and the influence of her parents' breakup on her identity. As she navigates the difficulties of her relationship with Wren, Calla realizes the value of forgiveness and empathy and that reconciling with her father is critical for her emotional health.
Separated from her comfortable urban life pushes Calla out of her comfort zone further. Alaska offers few creature comforts like soy lattes and unlimited hot water, and Calla’s first few days in Bangor are physically miserable. Yet, the longer she goes without her luxury wardrobe, expensive cosmetics, and gourmet food, Calla realizes she can live without those things. She says, “I’ve almost forgotten that I’ve been bare-faced for days. It’s been oddly liberating” (333). Beyond her physical discomfort, Calla experiences profound emotional adversity as she becomes overwhelmed with everything about her father she doesn't know. Yet, this emotional tension pushes her to be vulnerable with Wren, and in turn, he shares openly with her, leading to healing and growth in their relationship. Through self-reflection, Calla gains a deeper understanding of herself and her values, leading to pivotal realizations about what truly matters to her, including the importance of family, love, and a sense of purpose.
Calla’s interactions with people in Alaska heavily influence her transformation. Jonah's initial hostility and eventual encouragement test Calla's assumptions and motivate her to improve. His initially rude honesty and demands for her to shed her vanity ultimately give Calla a new perspective on her father and life. Calla learns from Jonah to accept vulnerability and authenticity, both critical components of her personal development. From Agnes, Calla learns about the beauty of persevering after great loss and accepting the life you’ve been given, not the one you want. In interacting with Alaskan residents, Calla learns that adversity produces resilience. However, it is Wren’s battle with cancer that affects Calla the most as she witnesses her father bravely face his mortality and live his remaining days with dignity. She expresses her desire to be fully present: “I don’t have to be okay with it, but I can be here for it” (343). Calla’s journey teaches her to embrace challenges as an opportunity for growth. Aided by the peace of reconciliation with her father in his final days, the lessons she learns from living in a harsh environment, and the strong bonds she establishes with those around her, Calla emerges a more resilient, self-aware, and grounded person, prepared to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
The Beauty and Complexity of Alaskan Life
With no memories of her early life in Bangor, Calla relies on Susan’s memories of Alaska as an unfruitful wilderness, expansive yet sometimes suffocating in its limitations. Yet when Calla first glimpses Anchorage's stunning beauty, she wonders if Susan is wrong. The breathtaking natural landscapes of Alaska, with its rugged mountains and pristine wilderness, begin to captivate Calla. Though commodities like fuel and groceries are expensive, travel is dicey on a good day, and the weather can turn violent and dangerous instantly, Calla begins to appreciate Alaska’s natural beauty. Calla experiences the awe-inspiring yet demanding nature of living in one of the world's most remote and unspoiled places through its rugged landscapes, close-knit communities, and the unique challenges its inhabitants face. Calla’s time in Alaska teaches her about the formidable obstacles of Alaskan existence. Yet she respects and understands why people endure in their quest to make a home there. Alaska’s landscape, with its raw beauty, provides a backdrop for Calla's emotional journey, representing the awe-inspiring grandeur of nature.
Isolation and distance contribute to the complexity of living in a wilderness. Calla says, “I feel completely cut off from the world out here” (90). The vast distances between villages, limited infrastructure, and terrible weather conditions create a sense of isolation, which can be both beneficial and detrimental. Calla is accustomed to a bustling city and initially finds Alaska's solitude strange and intimidating. The absence of many facilities she is accustomed to in Toronto and her reliance on planes for transportation reveals the difficulties of living in such a remote location. However, this seclusion develops a sense of self-reliance and resilience in the locals, influencing their character and lifestyle. Moreover, Alaskan residents value community and lean on one another to survive and thrive in these challenging conditions. This commitment to working together and leaning on one another fosters a sense of unity, a value Calla soon learns to appreciate.
The warmth and generosity of people like Agnes contrasts with the cold and harsh terrain, emphasizing the value of human connection in overcoming nature’s fierceness. Calla respects how Wren embodies the stoic resilience required to thrive in Alaska. His dedication to his work and his ability to endure the hardships of the land illustrates the toughness and perseverance needed to survive and find fulfillment in such an environment, especially in his line of work as a bush pilot. He explains, “Alaska may be where I live, but it’s as much a part of me as anything. I can’t really explain it. This place, this life…it’s in my blood” (150). Jonah helps Calla understand the cultural and emotional complexity of Alaskan life. The rich Indigenous traditions native to Alaska and its residents’ unwavering commitment to survive and thrive amidst an unrelenting natural landscape reveals the state’s unique cultural identity. Calla’s interactions with the local culture broaden her understanding of and appreciation for the land and its people, instilling a deep admiration for their resilience. In the end, it is this deep appreciation for the place and its people, especially Jonah, that causes her to consider making Alaska her home.
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