A Descent into the Maelström

Summary

«A Descent into the Maelström» is a tale of a man who survived a harrowing adventure at sea. The protagonist, an old fisherman, recounts the story of how he and his brothers were caught in a giant whirlpool off the coast of Norway, known as the Maelström. During their fishing trip, their boat was seized by the powerful current and began rapidly approaching the whirlpool's center. The protagonist describes his feelings of fear and despair, but also his awe at the grandeur and beauty of the natural phenomenon. At a moment when all hope seemed lost, he noticed that cylindrical objects descended more slowly than other shapes. Using this observation, he tied himself to a barrel and floated out of the whirlpool, while his brothers perished. The story concludes with the protagonist surviving, though left old and gray from the terror he endured.