The Sea
John Banville is known as the artist in words, but this book is very difficult to understand for English learners. I read this book twice a few years ago. The plot is not complicated and has little action. This was the third time to read for me, but difficult after all.
Max Morden, a retired art historian, whose wife has just died of cancer, goes to a resort village by the sea with his daughter Claire. The dilapidated guest house he stays at was once called the Cedars. In the summer 50 years ago, the Graces were staying there as a rented villa. Now the house-maid of this house is Ms Vavasour.
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And my life is changed forever.
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About 50 years ago, in the resort village, Max's family visits there every summer and rents a cheap cottage. One day in the summer, Max gets to know the Graces who are rich family and were visiting the village as well. The Graces are Mr. and Mrs. Grace, the twins Chloe and Myles, and the governess Rose. Myles had been mute from birth. At first Max has fallen in love with Mrs Grace, then, he has fallen in love with selfish and precocious Chloe.
Rose was often teased and bullied by the twins. Max happens to see and overhear that Rose confesses her love to Mr. Grace to Mrs. Grace with crying. (but it was Max's misunderstanding.) And he has told it to Chloe. Chloe offends.
On that day, in the shabby hut at the beach, Chloe permits Max to touch her thigh and kiss her. Suddenly the door opens and Rose is standing in the door way. Chloe dashes out of the hut and goes to the sea, and Myles, too.
The tortures of childhood and sexual awakening, faint love to Chloe, reminiscence of Anna, the sudden death. The narrative of Max goes seamlessly back and forth.
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"You live in the past." Claire said.
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In the last part, Max goes out to the beach alone with a brandy bottle at night. He drinks, until nearly killing himself, at the beach. We also learn that Ms. Vavasour is Rose herself.
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