At first glance, it's easy to mistake The Great Wide Sea for a classic story in the tradition of man vs. nature. After all, Jim Byron gets stranded in the sea, and then a storm hits, depositing his sons on a deserted island.
Moldy cereal bars ensue.
Still, if you look a little closer, you'll find that nature isn't just an antagonist in the novel. Nature sustains Ben and his brothers long after they eat their last can of chili on that deserted island, helping them stay alive (even if iguana was frequently on the menu). Also, Ben is constantly admiring the pristine beauty of his surroundings. In the final analysis, Mother Nature takes away, but she also provides. She's just fickle like that.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- Why do you think Ben's father wanted to spend a whole year on the ocean?
- What life lesson does Ben come to realize from the time he spends looking at the stars?
- Which brother seems the most "at home" in the wild? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
Ultimately, Ben and his family benefited from their year at sea.
Ultimately, a year at sea was a bad call for Ben and his family.