In The Shipping News, Proulx tells more than a story; it is news, ultimately good news. Metaphorically, Quoyle is on the ship of life. Proulx's fictional The Shipping News frames Quoyle's nonfictional shipping news in that Proulx's novel — in the telling — paradoxically and ironically reports the real news about humanity (and inhumanity), the same as that which is told daily in late twentieth century newspapers and on radio and television news shows, such as dysfunctional families, parental and spousal abuse, incest, extramarital sexual encounters, rape, murder, and even the presence of child pornography.

Quoyle's life begins in a dysfunctional abusive family, verbally abusive if not physically; yet, he survives the abuse and grows up and into a loving, kindly, and functional adult. Quoyle not only does what is right as a responsible human being but he also does what is right because he cares...