LUKE BALDWIN’S VOWS

I. Author & Works (Hân)

1. Author

- Morley Callaghan (1903-1990) Morley Callaghan was born on February 22,

1903 in Toronto, Canada.
- A master of the short story and author of several excellent novels, Callaghan
has long been a writer of international reputation.
- Callaghan was awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Pierce Medal in
1960. In 1982 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
- He died at the age of 87 and was interred at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in
Ontario.
2. Writing Style & Tone
Iceberg theory:
- Morley Callaghan is renowned for the clarity and economy of his prose.
- Callaghan, who was a devout Catholic, saw himself as a moralist as well as one
who gave "shape and form to human experience."
- A coming-of-age story
- Concrete, simple and literal language
Characteristic of writing:
- Direct description of characters and their actions. While Callaghan's work
appears forthright and uncomplicated, each of the novels focuses on a character
who faces a crisis. How this turning point is handled determines the direction
the character's life will take.
 - Use of characters' dialogues to reveal about their traits, motivation and
believes.
Tone of the story Luke Baldwin’s vow: sad, hopeful and touching
Luke Baldwin’s vow’s writing style: Through Luke Baldwin’s vow, we can
see that Morley used beautiful words to specialize characters and content in the
best way. Besides, the unique use of words, figurative language has made the
work more prominent.
3. Typical works
- The Loved and the Lost (which won the Governor General's Award in 1951),
It’s Never Over, Strange Fugitive, Such Is My Beloved, the classic memoir
That Summer in Paris, and his stories are anthologized in Exile Editions’
four-volume set, The Complete Stories of Morley Callaghan.
II. Setting (Dũng)
- Time: summer, early 20th century
- Place: Uncle Henry’s house by a sawmill and the surrounding countryside (the
river and the pasture)
- Luke Baldwin’s condition: an orphan who lives with his uncle
-> Summer is the second season of the year and it’s also the growing season.
The pasture represents growth and peace. In this story, summer and the pasture
symbolize Luke’s youth and the development of Luke's thoughts and
personality. The river might be a dangerous place with rapids or floods, which
could represent the challenges that Luke faces in the story.
III. Plot & Conflict (Đức Huy)

Exposition: Luke, 12-13, has to live with aunt and uncle because his father was
seriously sick and he is dying. Before moving to live with his uncle and aunt, Luke
promised with his father that he will try to be like his uncle, because he is a symbol of
success. His uncle was admired by a lot of people in the village.
Rising action: in the house with the aunt and uncle, Luke was lonely because he has
no friend, no one can understand his thoughts and feelings. Fortunately, he got his
dog,Dan-best friend. Luke shares his feelings, excitement and sorrows with Dan, and
Dan understands Luke a lot. But, one day, Uncle Henry discovered that the dog was
blind in one eye, he became weak and useless. So he cannot be used for hunting, but
he eats a lot. That’s why he decided to get rid of the dog. One morning, he asked Luke
to ride his bike to the center of town to buy him some cigars. When Luke was away,
his uncle asked Mr. Sam to drown the dog into the river, the stream was so strong.
Luke is riding his bike to town and he has a theory that something bad is going to
happen to the dog. Luke was really reluctant. And he was true.
The climax: Luke jumps into the river and tries his best to save the dog though he
could not swim, keeping the dog in sunlight to make him get warmer for a long time.
Falling action: After that, he didn't dare to come home with the dog because he
knows that his uncle will be very angry because Luke didn’t follow any of his
guidance or intentions. He immediately thought of Mr. Kempt, who is considered the
very sensitive, intelligent and admirable person in the village. Luke came to Mr.
Kempt with all the incidents that happened to him. Mr. Kempt understands Uncle
Henry very well and he suggested that Luke would watch the cows for him. In return,
Luke will receive 75 cents a week. With that money, he would give it to uncle Henry
and he would allow him to keep the dog with the condition that Luke gives him
money every week.
Resolution: Luke listened and took advice from Mr. Kempt. Luke came to Uncle
Henry with a proposition, and to his surprise, Uncle Henry agreed to let him keep the
dog.
Conflict:
- External conflict:
+ Luke vs Uncle Henry: Luke disagrees with his uncle’s belief that Dan is no
longer useful. Ex: “I don’t want a pup!” Luke cried, turning his face away. (A
pub is a little dog that Uncle Henry wants to buy to be a friend with Luke)
+ Luke vs nature: Luke struggles to save Dan from drowning. Ex: dives into
water, holds breath, searches for dog in murky water, works against resistance
of water to cut through the rope around Dan’s neck, swims to shore with heavy,
limp dog, and pushes water from dog’s lungs.
- Internal conflict:
+ Luke vs himself: Luke struggles with making decisions in a stressful situation.
Ex: “He would be ashamed of himself if he were diverted by any sentimental
consideration.” Luke knew in his heart that he couldn’t move his uncle.”
+ Many questions in his mind: Should he obey his uncle and ride into town for
cigas or go in search of his threatened dog?
+ Question After saving Dan from drowning, what should he do with the dog?
(“All he could do, he thought, was keep the dog away from his uncle, keep Dan
out of the house, feed him when Uncle Hẻny wasn’t around)

IV. POV (Dũng)

The story is narrated in the third-person point of view. Here are some pieces of
evidence to support our views:
- Use third-person pronouns: Throughout the story, the narrator consistently uses
third-person pronouns such as “he” or “his” refer the male characters like Luke
or Henry, “she” or “her” to refer to Helen, and “it” or “its” to refer to the dog.
+ Evidences:
“He looked like a powerful man, but his health was not good”
“Its amber eye was alert, intelligent, and approving”.
 “Aunt Helen, catching her husband’s eye, put her finger on her
lips,...”
“But Luke was frightened, for he knew what his uncle was like”
- Focus on Luke’s feelings, views, and thoughts: Throughout the story, we can
see that the author focuses on Luke, from the conversations with Uncle Henry
or with Mr. Kemp to how Luke saves Dan's life. In this way, it helps readers
understand more about Luke’s motivations and emotions which is the
characteristic of a limited omniscient point-of-view.
V. Characters (Nguyệt + Gia Huy)

Character Personal Appearance During the climax After the climax

characteristic

Luke -creative, -twelve-year-ol -sensitive “What’s the -brave, decisive,

Protagonist thoughtful d boy matter, Uncle confident “I want
(round “Luke would - Henry?” to give you a
character) say to Dan he -Loyal friend, good practical
could not say to company “I don’t proposition, Uncle
his uncle and want pup!” Henry?”
aunt - It was just -decisive “But even -realize a rule of
stuff that he while he watched, he life and
might have seemed to be
told….” following a plan have a dream for
-obedient “ He without knowing it, himself
had never dared for he… his
to refuse to obey jackknife,...muttered
an order from fiercely, prayed….
his uncle-old -resourceful,
person” competent
“Getting….”
-
Henry - big, burly,
-The manager of straightforward and -convinced:
Antagonist -weighing more
the sawmill practical:
(round than two “overwhelmed
character) -respectful hundred thirty “ he’s just a very old with a distress that
pounds. dog, son” destroyed all his
-practical “He’s
-rounded-skinne confidence”,
wonderfully “ Luke knew that if
d
practical” his uncle had decided “all right, keep the
-brick-coloured
that the dog was dog”
“Always try to face
useless and that was
learn the -a powerful -reasonable: “I’m
sane and sensible to
essential facts” man accepting it
get rid of it..”
- have aches, because I think
-known at once
pain in his back, you’ll learn
-detailed person shoulders something out of
this”
“Know exactly
the price of
everything”

-Caring: “he
bought Luke a
good bicycle…”

Helen -kindly -plump -Thoughtful

-Supportive:
(flat -straightforward “Catching her
character) woman husband eyes, put her “…let him keep
-respect her finger on her lips the dog”
husband: “She warning…”
would say to
- Kindful: She also
 Luke, “You wants to keep the dog
should try and
be like your
uncle Henry””

Sam Carter -dull, -stooped,

aloof, decisive:
(flat -gruff, aloof slow-witted
character) man who would - sixty “ Carter drooped the
have no feeling -iron-gray stone,.... But Carter
for a dog beard, was startled, and he
-wear blue stared stupidly at the
overalls and a riverbank, then he
blue shirt ducked his head and
began to row quickly
to the bank”

Kempt -love -old -practical “Maybe

sympathy and
(flat children”Love -thin, wiry you should make
understanding: “I
character) seeing Luke and -untidy him a practical
wouldn’t want you to
Dan running mustache, proposition?”
think your uncle was
around the wrinkled.
cruel and unfeeling.
cows…” leathery skin
He’s a fine man…”
-smart person, -friendly eyes
experienced amused -wise: teach Luke
-thoughtful - how to deal with
- Uncle Henry

Dan -affectionate: -old, fat, -not aware os the

slow-moving danger:
“When Luke
left for school-> -Blind in one “Sat contentedly
 followed him eye beside Carter, its
for half of a tongue going out in a
A slight limp in
mile… friendly lick at the
the left hind leg
hand ..”
Waiting at the
gate when he
returns”

- be a Luke’s
friend: “Luke
was never
lonely when the
dog with him”

VI. Themes (Đoan, Nhân, Minh Anh)

- Theme no.1: Strive continuously to create value, or else you may be left behind
as progress moves forward.
In the story, Dan, the dog, is portrayed as aged, blind in one eye and has a limp in his
left hind leg.
“Dan, a dog blind in one eye and with a slight limp in his left hind leg.”
Uncle Henry deems Dan as useless, incapable of fulfilling any useful function, not
even as a watchdog.
“No, not much good even as a watchdog now.”
“And no good for hunting either. And he eats a lot, I suppose.”
Being a practical person, Uncle Henry decided that he couldn’t keep something that
was no longer valuable, so he wanted to “get rid of” Dan.
Despite Luke’s insistence on keeping Dan, his opinion cannot change his uncle’s
decision.
After Luke rescues Dan, he wants to find the dog a new home with Mr. Kemp, hoping
that Mr.Kemp would keep Dan to get the cows in the evening. However, once again,
Luke receives the comment that Dan was old and it was a waste of money to feed him.
In the end of the story, Luke has to pay Uncle Henry seventy-five cents a week to keep
Dan.
⇒ The story underscores the importance of striving to bring value to the world around
us, moving forward constantly if we don’t want to be left behind.
- Theme no.2: Fight for your beloved things in order not to feel regretful later.
We see that in the story, Luke really loves Dan and he does not want anyone to take
Dan away from him. When his uncle had Sam killed Dan, Luke was totally depressed.
“Uncle Henry, Dan’s a wonderful dog! You don’t know how wonderful he is!”
He decided to disobey his uncle’s offer to buy him some cigars in order to save Dan.
Additionally, he’s ready to put himself at risk in the river to save his dog, Dan.
Love coming from a warm-hearted person is the most beautiful and valuable thing in
the world. Not only in the author’s time but we can completely apply this lesson to our
lives. If you love someone, try your best to struggle for them and protect them as
much as you can.

VII. Symbols/ Figurative speech (Đoan, Nhân, Minh Anh)

● Figurative speech
1. Simile
“It was all like a crazy dream picture to Luke…”
→ compare Luke’s real life experience to his illogical imagery found in a dream. →
emphasizes the surreal and unbelievable nature of what Luke is experiencing. → The
situation is so unexpected that it feels unreal.
“The collie suddenly drifted up slowly, like a water-soaked log.”
→ The dog is an alive animal and supposed to be active even though it’s a little bit old
but now it looks like a water-soaked log. We see that the poor dog could do nothing
except for accepting the reality that it might die if Luke did not come to save it.
2. Sound devices
Some sound devices like alliteration are used by the author to break up the tedium of
prose and draw more attention from the readers.
"...with a slight limp in his left hind leg."
"...after dinner, Dan would follow him down the road."

● Symbolism
1. The dog (Dan):
The dog Dan is regarded as the symbol of loyalty, friendship, and companionship. For
a long time, dogs have been considered a loyal and loving friend to humans. Through
his bond with Dan, Luke experiences a deep connection that goes beyond the
ownership of a pet. Dan represents constant loyalty and love.
“When Luke left for school in the morning, the old dog followed him for half a mile
down the road, and when he returned in the afternoon, there was Dan waiting at the
gate.”
“Luke would say things to Dan he could not say to his uncle or his aunt.”
2. Two vows:
“he did not forget that he had promised his dying father he would try to learn things
from his uncle; so he used to watch him very carefully.”

“he would always have some money on hand, no matter what became of him, so that
he would be able to protect all that was truly valuable from the practical people in the
world”
Each vow represents Luke’s maturity in thinking. The first one said when Luke
was about to lose his father. Without his father, Luke would no longer have a true
family and he had to be more responsible to his life and try his best to go along with
his uncle’s family. He was not a free-minded boy anymore. When we read the second
vow, we might think that Luke became more aware of the importance of money and
would become a practical man like his uncle. In contrast, Luke realised that only when
he had something in his hand could he protect his important things against the people
who always prioritised the material. Luke was undeniably more and more realistic but
it did not mean that bread could outweigh the importance of rose in his life.
VIII. Consolidation (Nhân)
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