Beach

The beach is the central physical and symbolic setting of the novel. Literally, it is Tom’s workplace as a shanker, representing the demands, dangers, and routines of his inherited life. Symbolically, it embodies liminality and uncertainty: the fog, low tide, and sinkpits create a landscape where orientation and safety are constantly at risk. The beach is also the site of transformative encounters, including Tom’s experiences with Edgar and the near-death episode that leads to his vision in the Fogbell. It functions as a threshold between the ordinary world and the realm of artistic and mystical possibility.

Tom and Lillian’s House

Tom and Lillian’s house represents domestic stability and the routines of everyday life. It is a modest, unremarkable space, reflecting the constraints of their working-class existence and Lillian’s dependence on Pop and Tom. The house also serves as a private sphere where Tom...