Beyond That, the Sea

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 27

Part 1, Chapters 28-55

Part 2

Part 3, Chapters 70-86

Part 3, Chapter 87-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

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 The Gap Between Dreams and Reality, specifically William’s dreams versus the reality of the life he ends up living.

The House in Maine

The Gregorys’ house in Maine is an important setting and symbol in the novel. It’s where the Gregorys and, for a short time, Bea spend summers and a place where everyone feels happy and content. Thus, it represents the carefree feeling of childhood and unlimited potential of youth. William’s longing for the house and his desire to someday buy it back are manifestations of his discontent with his life as an adult and the desire to return to a simpler time. In this way, the house also represents a bubble beyond reality. Thus, it’s where William and Bea explore their relationship during her last summer with the Gregorys, and the relationship fittingly remains a secret. When the Gregorys are forced to sell the house, it serves as a reality check for William, as he realizes that certain dreams he had will never play out as he hoped.

In addition, the house in Maine represents an enduring connection between the people who pass on in the story and those who remain. Reclaiming the house after Gerald and Bea buy it back becomes a way for Nancy to restore her links to her ancestral family, since she inherited the house from them, and a way for her to remember Ethan and William, who loved the place dearly too. Carrying on the family legacy and building new memories, Bea and Gerald spend their summers at the island home with their own daughter and William’s children. By celebrating William’s birthday there, they further keep old traditions alive.

Chess

The game of chess links multiple characters in the novel across families and generations. Most importantly, its presence reflects the state of Bea’s connectedness with the Gregorys. The game first appears in the letters that Reginald and Ethan exchange. The camaraderie between the men reflects the comfort and ease that Bea herself feels in the Gregorys’ house.

After Reginald’s death, Nancy continues the game with Ethan. However, it abruptly comes to an end because of mail interception during the war, foreshadowing the abrupt end of Bea’s time with the Gregorys once the war ends. For years afterward, communication between Bea and the Gregorys is sporadic, as evident in the game of chess she continues playing with Ethan. Following Ethan’s death, however, Bea has no one to continue playing chess with, and communication between her and the Gregorys dwindles. The complete cessation of the game for years reflects the disconnection Bea feels from the family while she’s forced to push them away into the corners of her memory because of Millie’s disapproval.

After Bea reconnects with the Gregorys, the novel reveals that she has begun playing postal chess again with William’s daughter, Kathleen, whom Bea believes has Ethan’s brain. Bea and Kathleen’s continuation of the game reflects Bea’s renewed connection with the Gregorys; soon, Bea and Gerald marry and have a daughter of their own, forging permanent ties in blood as well as home and belonging.