Dick Pierce

Pierce is a forty-two year old fisherman, who lives on the shore near Galilee, Rhode Island. He is relatively poor, and his wife has to work to help support their two boys. Pierce has had many jobs, but has somewhat of a temper and prefers working for himself. While he worked at a boatyard he gained the skill to build boats, and he is in the process of building a fifty-footer for himself. His goal is to be the owner of a good boat by the age of forty.

Dick's family owned much of the land that has now been purchased as second homes by tourists. Dick remains proud and wants to isolate himself from becoming a low-class employee, answering to others' whims. Both his father and his grandfather lost most of their land, and Dick remains determined to make a living fishing and working without being...