The Sea

To Rachel, the sea symbolizes great passion. Before the first scene in the book, Rachel was happy. She loved the ocean more than anything— she wore swimsuits under her dresses, swam with her brother and mother, and was even planning to become an ichthyologist. She was almost one with the ocean. However, after the ocean takes Cal’s life, she becomes wary of it. The thing she loves has hurt her, and h.er fear increases until she is no longer able to go into the ocean. She can only to sit on the beach and mourn from afar. Her mother shares in this experience with her. She explains her fear of the sea to two trusted friends, Henry and Frederick. They convince her that she cannot avoid her passion, just because of a painful experience. Finally, she is no longer fearful of or angry at the...