The Voyage of the Frog

David is the protagonist of The Voyage of the Frog, and for much of the novel, he is the only living character. By using David’s perspective to portray the stresses of being lost in the Pacific Ocean, Paulsen creates a sense of verisimilitude and highlights the dynamic changes that David undergoes as a character. As David’s experiences force him to undergo a journey of growth and resilience, he transforms from a grief-stricken 14-year-old boy into a responsible young man. Initially overcome with grief, regret, and frustration at the world, David is also portrayed as an intensely empathetic character. Upon seeing his beloved uncle Owen bedridden in the hospital, he is so overcome by the smell and by his uncle’s diminished appearance that he vomits. He then becomes immediately sheepish, feeling terrible that he cannot maintain a show of strength in front of his dying uncle. His bond with his uncle is so strong that when Owen asks a favor of him, David thinks to himself, “I will die for you if it will save you. Anything” (7). David feels and demonstrates his emotions deeply and honestly. However, this emotional candor creates problems for him at the outset of the novel, for his intense desire to fulfill his uncle’s last wish leads him to sail into the ocean without adequate preparation.

David also lets his feelings get the best of him when he is lost at sea and starts to feel that his situation is hopeless. After failing to get the attention of a passing oil tanker, he lets himself become overcome with frustration and hatred toward his situation, his uncle Owen, and himself. At the same time, his overwhelming feelings of anger also motivate him toward survival. He finally realizes that “in the end, in the steaming little pit of hatred and poison, he found himself, he found the David he needed” (94). This moment represents the first instance of David’s true growth and maturity. Faced with an impossible situation, he harnesses the depth of his emotions just as the Frog harnesses the wind, fueling his desire to survive his ordeal. Throughout this adventure at sea, David becomes stronger both physically and mentally, and he begins to rely on his knowledge and instincts. By the time he encounters the second storm, he notes that he is “different now. He was not panicking, banging around to stow gear below. His mind was steady, his thoughts careful and even” (133). The novel’s climactic moments demonstrate that David has developed into a skillful sailor and has transformed from an impulsive, eager young boy into a mature and brave young man.