Thesis: The main aim of this paper is to identify the tone developed in the book The Edge of the Sea and the various stylistic devices used to create the theme that conveys the author’s message to the audience.
- Introduction
- The Edge of the Sea is a book authored by Rachel Carson
- It depicts the life experiences of the seashore
- The main aim of this paper is to identify the tone developed in the book The Edge of the Sea and the various stylistic devices used to create the theme that conveys the author’s message to the audience.
- Location setting
- The story unfolds on a sea shore
- The sea shore is symbolically used to show how human and non-human beings are interconnected
- The shore is an ancient world, for as long as there has been an earth and sea, there has been this place of the meeting of land and water.”
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The figurative language used in the book
- Use of imagery “ a huge flower that was not a plant but an animal”
- The use of allegory; for example, “the crushing force” can either refer to the harsh tides at the sea or the environmental pollution that may affect the life of this flourishing flower.
- The use of personification “smiling flower”
- The tone developed in the entire text varies from the introductory part to the end
- Concerned tone at the beginning of the text describing the shore
- Happy tone after realizing the beauty that exists at the sea shore
- Serious tone when the author tells of the interconnection between creatures
- Themes achieved by the narration
- The main theme in the story is about environmental protection
- Conclusion
The edge of the sea is a symbolic term that shows how humans and nature merge and depend on each other at some point, the edge of the sea. The use of stylistic devices enhances this message of environmental protection.
The Edge of the Sea
Rachel Carson has been credited and recognized for her efforts in initiating the modern environmental movement. She has employed the tool of writing to put her message across and call for action in regards to environmental sustainability. One of her writings includesThe Edge of the Sea, which is a book published in the year 1955 by Houghton Mifflin press. The book focuses on the life in the coastal ecosystem and gives an expository narration about the occurrences and experience at the seashore.Carson captures an array of themes that are meant to be interpreted by the reader and stimulate an action. In order to develop a theme in literature, the author incorporates the use of certain stylistic devices and selection of words that will enhance better understanding by the audience. The main aim is to create an environment that will enable the reader to capture every mood, feeling, emotion, create mental pictures among other reactions that will aid in passing the intended message. Therefore, this paper identifies the theme developed in the book The Edge of the Seaand the various stylistic devices used to convey the author’s message.
The book begins with a statement that aims at capturing the reader’s attention, “the edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place”.From these words, it is easy to discern the location and the main focal point of the story that is outlined in the book. It is an introductory statement that draws the attention of the audience that the author is writing about the sea shore. Significantly, Carson praises the edge of the sea due to the varied actions that take place at the shore, she calls it dual nature.This implies that there activities that occur on the mainland and others at the sea; hence, they all converge at the shore. The edge of the sea is a symbolic phrase that depicts a place of connection between land and the sea. “The shore is an ancient world, for as long as there has been an earth and sea, there has been this place of the meeting of land and water”.From the author’s explanation, the seashore is an extremely beautiful place that has deeper meanings and showcase how each creature is connected with the other. At this junction, the reader can fathom the central idea of Carson’s literal work. The sea shore is a significant area that shows how nature is intertwined with one another; for instance, Carson asserts that she saw spheres of protozoa by the sea side; a gull flew above the sky, bacteria over rock surface, water interlocked with the land, and numerous plants surrounded the place. This shows all living thingsexist by the seaside and they depend on the environment to survive. Therefore, interrupting this inter-relation will be detrimental to the life of these creatures found at the shore.
Carson employs the use of stylistic devices, which include figurative language, sound techniques, and structural design to develop her story. First, the text evokes numerous mental pictures since the author embraces the use of imagery. She asserts that she looked for the most beautiful of all at the shore, the flower that was not a plant but an animal; it hanged from the roof of the rock. From this statement, the reader is already trying to imagine the size and beauty of this flower that was not a plant but an animal. Second, the author employs the use of allegory where she selects words that have a deeper meaning other than the superficial explanation. “Here creatures superbly shaped that seemed unreal, their beauty too fragile to exist in a world of crushing force”. In this case, “the crushing force” can either refer to the harsh tides at the sea or the environmental pollution that may affect the life of this flourishing flower. The use of figurative language is repeatedly employed in this book. For instance, the author says that she later understood that the world to which she belong did not exist. She had not yet understood the punitive certainties of the inert world. The main aim is to sensitize on the idea of environment protection since most people does not understand how non-human beings suffer from externalities such as pollution. Not unless an individual takes time to learn, like Carson did by visiting the seashore, it would be difficult to understand “the harsh realities of the inorganic world”.Similarly, there is the use of personification where the inanimate objects are given human and animal characterization. Carson talks of the “aging world” and the “smiling flower” gave an odd sensation of knowing each creature in its own world. “The birds only became dark shadows without any discernible color”, is a paradox statement that has an ulterior meaning. After the destruction of the serene environment, it is quite difficult to identify creatures as they are in bad shape.The author also employs the use of allusion where she refers to a historical event in order to enhance her message-“all through the long history of earth it has been an area of unrest…”
The book begins with a concerned tone that is elicited by the fretful approach of the writer. “…the sea is never at rest, tides advance and retreat, continental margins warp…” shows that the seashore is never relaxed. The first paragraph is succeeded by an unhappy tone where the author says that only the hardiest and adaptable can survive in a region that is so mutable. It is quite clear that the writer is disturbed by the violent nature of the seashore; there is no serenity and organisms are at a constant disturbance. Suddenly, the author switches to a happy and somber tone in her seashore explanation. She selects words that show the attractiveness of the sea side and events that take place. She talks of the shore as the place that keeps alive the sense of continuing creation and the relentless drive of life. Similarly, her thought of ashore as a place that has the revelation of exquisite beauty depicts an attractive place. The tone remains somber and happy through the text as the writer describes the seashore. However, the author indulges into a serious tone that creates solemn mood towards the end of the text. This is the point where Carson stipulates her message and the importance of her writing. She asserts that there is a common thread that links scenes and memories. The underlying beauty at the seashore has a meaning and significance; hence, it should not be taken for granted. She concludes by saying that this is the place where the reality of the world is crystal clear.
Rachel applies tonal variation in taking the readers through the journey by the shores. In the beginning, words like relaxation and ugly have been applied in to describe the state of the shore. These words further define the state of mind and her emotions towards the sea and the causes. The agitated approach in defining the sea introduces the reader to the desires of the writer (Carsons 104). These are contradicting the flow and the image created. The application of words such as harsh, aggressive, and adaptability in defining the living conditions of the organisms by the shore are further proofs of her anger towards the changes by the shore. She goes on to apply words such as retreat to show her displeasure at the movement of the sea.
At the center, she applies the soft, inspiring and inviting tone to display the beauty of the shore. She does this by applying words such as beauty, refreshing and warm. This attracts the reader to continue reading the story to grasp the shore. Her entire description of the beauty and quietness of the shore highlights her love and her desire for the good maintenance of the sea. From the description of the creation and her entire figurative words, the reader captures the attitude of Rachel and her love for the nature.
The themes of these excerpts are clearly defined and developed within the text and it is easy for the reader to fathom. To begin with, Carson sensitizes on the love for nature by describing some features that are at the shore. When the author takes time to explain the beauty of a flower, the segmentation of the rocks, the impeccable swinging of the tides, and the serene wind breeze at the sea shore, she is trying to trigger emotions about the beauty that is found at the place. It is meant to lure the public to gain an interest in visiting the site. Carson clearly understands that some people are disinterested in admiring nature because they do not recognize what to observe in nature. This is why she takes a considerable amount of time to explain to the audience the abundance of nature’s beauty. Correspondingly, Carson gained knowledge about the interdependence between creatures during her stay at the shore. The crabs stay in water but are swept to the sea shore where they become a meal for other creatures. Plants will benefit from the sunlight and protection by humans in order to produce food. In light of this, Carson tells the reader that each creature depends on the other for survival and the intricate relationships that govern the natural world. This elicits the theme that nothing lives in isolation; hence, the patterns of life are defined as the sea shore where two overlapping habitants merge. What the audience can decipher from this text is the importance to protect and to maintain the environment. There is a lot of beauty at the sea shore that people should not ignore; therefore, Carson brings the theme of environmental protection.
The Edge of the Seais a writing that presents the world to the audience from the perspective of the sea creatures. The main aim of this text is to invite the reader to have a rapport and identity with the sea creatures and the environment at large. After reading the book, the reader is stimulated to be more conscious and concerned about the ocean’s resiliency to all the externalities that are exposed to it. It would be hard for human beings to plunder and pollute the sea. This would be adding burden to the already stuffed sea, which will not only affect the sea but also the creatures that depend on it.Actually, human beings are part of the creatures that largely depend on the sea either for food or for transportation. Polluting the sea means that they will be adversely affected and their source of food will be destroyed. Carson introduces the perspective that all life is deeply interconnected and it would be unfortunate for one party to destroy the life of the other. In her authorship of this book, she employs the use of literature devices that are instrumental in conveying her message. Her message is clearly depicted in the theme of environmental protection which is signified by life at the edge of the sea. The author says that this is where life dram played, where the spectacle of living creatures is faced by the cosmic realities. It is every person’s duty to ensure that nature is protected in order to achieve environmental sustainability. Therefore, The Edge of the Sea is a good read that has a lot of positivity.Works Cited
Carson, Rachel. The Edge of the Sea. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1998. Print.