Though the focus of The Great Wide Sea is on Ben, our protagonist, each of the Byron brothers matures over the course of the novel. Gerry learns to swim, which is a huge step for him. (He also catches fish and helps with other stuff around the island.) Dylan proves himself in more than one crisis. Ben learns to let go of his rage.
In addition to their individual journeys, the Byrons find a way to live independently (on a deserted island, no less) after they (think they) are orphaned. Technically, they don't need parents anymore. That's part of growing up.
Questions About Coming of Age
- Who do you think matures the most over the course of the story? Explain your answer.
- Why was Ben so fixated on his sixteenth birthday at the beginning of the novel? What made him lose interest in it?
- Which character's behavior is the most childish? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
The Great Wide Sea is about three brothers who learn they can survive without their parents.
For Ben, the first step in coming of age is learning he can survive without his father. The second step is realizing that he doesn't want to.