Themes and message
The main theme of the short story “Sea Story” by A. S. Byatt is opposition; opposition in love and the opposition between man and nature. The author’s message is that some conflicts or oppositions can never be overcome. Harold loves Laura, but the paths they have chosen in life inevitably separate them. In a similar way, man may admire nature, but man’s actions almost always end up being harmful to nature, and nature will always win in the end.…
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Opposition in love
The theme of opposites in love is explored through the relationship between Harold and Laura. Harold, a man who has chosen the life of the intellectual rather than being truly connected to nature, meets and falls in love with Laura,…
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Man versus nature
The theme of man versus nature is explored in the story thorough the characters and elements of the setting. In the story, Laura symbolises the sea while Harold can in some ways be seen as a symbol of the land, altered by human being…
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Other works with the same theme
For the theme of man versus nature, we recommend that you read the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. Against all advice, a man decides to travel alone to a camp in Yukon Territory, during winter. Convinced t…
