Waterland

After briefly referring back to Mary’s eel incident, Tom elaborates on the history and nature of the European Eel, including how it “can tell us about curiosity—rather more indeed than curiosity can inform us of the eel” (196). As eels are inherent to the Fens, Tom is extremely familiar with them but is most amazed that despite cataclysmic happenings in the world, and devoid of any real knowledge, they continue to survive.

Tom redirects his story back to history: “What is this—a biology lesson? No, I prefer, in order to point a contrast, to call it Natural History. Which doesn’t go anywhere. Which cleaves to itself. Which perpetually travels back to where it came from” (205). Tom ponders the unknown then entreats his students to remain curious, maintaining that curiosity is crucial for the survival of humankind.

Tom returns to the moment immediately after Mary discovers the eel, a tense moment in which Dick looks at Mary with “a long and searching look […] a stern, baffled and questioning look” (207). When he does this, she stops giggling and looks back at him. Freddie witnesses this interesting exchange, as does Tom.

Tom tries to process this moment without emotion, but “it’s too much for your history teacher’s unpractised objectivity, or for his short-lived pubescent boldness” (207), because at this moment, he realizes he is in love with Mary Metcalf.