The relationship between the woman and the man

Your exam asks you to focus on the relationship between the woman and the man in Adrian Markle’s short story “That Same Sea”. The relationship between the woman and the man, who is also the narrator of the story, appears at first glance to be close and affectionate. However, on closer inspection, there are subtle hints of an ongoing conflict or at least unresolved differences. 

The man mocks the woman about the contrast between her city persona and the way she behaves in the village. For instance, when she lectures him about flowers and animals and comments about “ ‘city folk’ ” (l. 43), he replies “ ‘Last week you drank a latte out of an avocado, and you’ve taken your cat to yoga’ ” (l. 44). We do not know whether he says this in a humorous or mean way, which...