Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
If the sea symbolizes life, the Chrysalis symbolizes the poor soul who's trying to navigate his way through it. It's a little ragged, a little banged up, and a lot in need of some loving TLC.
All of the Byrons can be linked to the Chrysalis, but it's worth noting that the book strongly links the boat with Ben in particular. Let's look at the most obvious clue first: the boat's name, Chrysalis, is a word that seriously connotes change:
"What is the name of this boat again?" I asked.
"Chrysalis," Dylan said.
"Does it mean anything?" Gerry asked.
[…]
"It's a scientific term," Dylan said. "It's the cocoon stage of a butterfly or moth." (3.7-3.10)
That tells us—hey, it almost shouts at us with a megaphone—that the boat trip is supposed to be a vehicle for personal change.
But sailing around, Ben doesn't feel like that change is happening.
The wind blew in my face and the sail flowed out behind me like a single giant wing, like I was some kind of mutilated butterfly who could flap around a lot but who would never, ever fly. (7.58)
He wants to transform, but he feels trapped…almost as if he were a butterfly trapped inside a chrysalis.
Just before Mr. Byron falls overboard and the storm hits, the Chrysalis has a small collision with another boat that scrapes off some of its paint.
The collision had taken out part of the name painted on the stern. Now it said Chyrs—is. (19.44)
If you sound out the word, you get "crisis"—which is exactly what's happening in Ben's life.