Nature

The bulk of the novel focuses on Sophia and Grandmother’s forays into nature, and each individual character’s pursuit of happiness, nostalgia, and comfort from their interactions with the natural landscape of the island, allowing Jansson to demonstrate how much happiness can be derived from a simple life complete with introspection but the additional necessity of nature. Sophia has a large measure of freedom for a girl of her age, and she derives joy from getting her hands dirty outside while exploring. She compares the beauty of her small Finnish island to what heaven might look like. What others may see as simple and ordinary is extraordinary and beautiful to Sophia and her grandmother. For example, when a neighbor moves onto the island next to them, he builds his house large enough that it begins to obscure their view of the horizon. This decision alone...