Analysis
The analysis of "Eastmouth" by Alison Moore can be summarised as follows.
The short story follows a traditional plot structure, including narrative techniques like backstory and foreshadowing. The story consists of a series of events that only hint at the protagonist, Sonia, feeling uncomfortable in Eastmouth. Several details in the story suggest that Eastmouth might be a place where almost supernatural forces are at work, and that these forces are trying to trap Sonia in Eastmouth, but this is not made explicit.
The characters include Sonia, as the protagonist, and Peter, her boyfriend, and his parents as secondary characters. Other characters that appear in the story are a woman in a transparent raincoat, a waiter at the Grand restaurant, and the townspeople, as a collective character. These characters are mainly symbolic in the story, as they represent the forces that are trying to keep Sonia in Eastmouth against her wishes.
The main events take place in Eastmouth, a small town on England’s south coast. The social setting explores aspects related to living a conventional life versus living a life of freedom and independence.
The events are described by a third-person narrator with a limited point of view, who borrows the perspective of the protagonist. While she/he provides some straightforward information such as details about the characters’ background or the setting, the narrator is generally not explicit about Sonia’s situation.
The story is told using descriptive language that is mostly easy to follow. The author uses a mix of narration and dialogue which helps the readers understand more about the characters and their circumstances.
You can read the full analysis in the following pages.