Beyond That, the Sea

William quotes Shakespeare to Rose on one occasion: “What’s past is prologue” (250). How does this hold true for the novel’s events and characters? What repeating patterns or instances of foreshadowing emerge in the story?

The novel refers to constant comparisons between Ethan and William, and between Nancy and Gerald, when the boys are younger. How true do these comparisons hold as the boys grow up? For Bea, what influences do each of her “four parents” have on her character?

Reginald, Ethan, and William all have early deaths, and Bea in particular doesn’t spend much time with these three important men in her life. What significance do their deaths have for the plot and themes of the story?

Late in the novel, Nancy, Rose, and Gerald wonder whether things would have gone differently between them and in their lives if William were still alive. Nancy believes that people can’t change, while Rose disagrees. Based on events in the novel, substantiate one of these viewpoints, citing examples from the text.

Comment on the role of memory and longing within the story and the symbolism of photographs that represents this idea.

Compare and contrast Nancy’s and Millie’s characters and lives. What are the differences between the two women, and how do these differences impact their relationships with Bea? Also comment on any significant similarities they share.

Along with the members of the Thompson and Gregory families, an eighth perspective in the story is that of Rose, William’s wife and eventual widow. Why is her story significant to the larger narrative? What role does she play?

Comment on the paintings that Bea receives from Nancy. What significance do they hold, particularly after Bea finds that one was painted by William? What do the paintings convey about William’s relationships with Bea and his father?