Beyond That, the Sea

The story follows two families living on different continents, separated by an ocean. The only thing linking the two families is Bea, who feels torn between her life and experiences on either side of that ocean. Thus, the sea symbolizes the division between these two parts of her life and, subsequently, her identity. The novel’s title derives from a specific moment that showcases this conflict, when after swimming to the mainland from the island in Maine for the first time, she looks back at the island and “beyond that, the sea” (57). It’s the direction in which London and her parents are and connects to the theme of Reconciling the Parts of One’s Identity.

Likewise, the sea is important to William, who longs for the seaside after the family is forced to sell their house in Maine. William associates the sea with the best times of his life and all the memories he created on the island in Maine. He can’t reclaim this space and thus tries to recreate the memories of his childhood at a different seaside, spending time in Gloucester with his children. William eventually dies in a car accident near the sea. The sea thus becomes a symbol of