Depending on how you look at it, the Byron family is either very unlucky…or the complete opposite.
On one hand, The Great Wide Sea begins with the death of Christine, and at least everyone else in her family has at least one—and sometimes more—brushes with death. On the other hand, four out of five Byrons ultimately survive, beating what must be terrible odds. How many people floating in the middle of the sea get rescued, anyway?
In the story, Ben is faced with the prospect of death over and over again. First he loses his mother. Then he loses his father (or, at least, he thinks he does). Then he's faced with the loss of his two brothers when Dylan gets sick. He learns he can survive other people's deaths, even though it seems impossible at first.
Questions About Mortality
- Why is Dylan so sure that his father's disappearance was the result of an accident (and not suicide, as Ben thinks)?
- Which of the Byrons' near-death experiences was most terrifying? Explain your answer.
- Describe how each Byron deals with Mrs. Byron's death. Who has the best strategy?
Chew on This
The Byrons' time at sea helps them come to terms with Mrs. Byron's death.
The Byrons' time at sea helps them come to terms with the idea of death, just in general.