Family. You can't live with 'em. You can't live without 'em. And you certainly can't get along with them every second of every day.
The Great Wide Sea is a novel in which family ties support and sustain our characters even as they drive them bonkers. Among Ben, Dylan, and Gerry, we see that brotherly love literally helps them stay alive. We also see flashes of motherly love (as they remember their mom) and even fatherly love (as poor old Jim Byron tries to stumble along through his broken life).
It's important to remember, though, that Ben spends almost the entire novel hating his father's guts. In the end, they manage to sort through their differences and live happily (-ish) ever after.
Questions About Family
- In what ways are Ben and his father alike? In what ways are they different?
- Which two members of the Byron clan seem to have the strongest bond? Explain your answer.
- How do family stories sustain the Byron brothers when they're stranded at sea?
Chew on This
In The Great Wide Sea, family love is a powerful force. Ben and his brothers save each other's lives many times.
In The Great Wide Sea, family love is a destructive force. It leads Jim Byron on a foolish journey into the dangerous ocean.