'Whale' Summary

In Ellis Parker Butler's short story "Whale", the mundane world of New York City banking is thrown into utter chaos when a giant whale appears in the middle of a bank's office. The story follows the reactions of the bank's employees, particularly the bewildered and increasingly frustrated bank president, as they try to deal with the unexpected visitor. Butler cleverly uses the absurdity of the situation to poke fun at the often-rigid and overly serious nature of the financial world. From the bewildered bank president trying to keep up appearances to the employees scrambling to find a solution, the story is a delightful satire of human behavior in the face of the unexpected. The whale's presence throws the world of banking into disarray, highlighting the fragility of order and the inherent comedy in the unpredictable nature of life.