Why Does The Protagonist In The Seas Believe She Is A Mermaid?

2026-03-24 09:41:47
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2 Answers

Ruby
Ruby
Helpful Reader Chef
It’s fascinating how 'The Seas' uses the mermaid myth to explore themes of alienation and longing. The protagonist’s belief isn’t just a quirky trait; it’s a manifestation of her feeling out of place in her own life. She’s surrounded by people who don’t understand her, and the ocean becomes a symbol of the unknown—something she can project her hopes onto. The mermaid idea isn’t literal; it’s her way of making sense of a world that feels hostile or indifferent. The book doesn’t spell it out, but her fixation on being a mermaid mirrors how we all create narratives to survive.
2026-03-29 01:58:19
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Zane
Zane
Insight Sharer Analyst
The protagonist in 'The Seas' clings to the belief she's a mermaid as a way to cope with the overwhelming grief and isolation she feels after her father's disappearance. It's not just a whimsical fantasy—it's a survival mechanism. The ocean, with its vastness and mystery, becomes a metaphor for her emotional turmoil. She imagines herself as part of it, a creature who belongs to the water rather than the land where her pain resides. This belief gives her a sense of identity and purpose when everything else feels unstable.

The book beautifully blurs the line between reality and fantasy, making her conviction feel both heartbreaking and poetic. Her mermaid fantasy isn't just escapism; it's a way to process loss. The sea represents what she’s lost—her father, her stability—but also what she might reclaim. There’s something deeply human about how she transforms her suffering into myth, turning herself into something magical to endure the mundane brutality of grief. I’ve always found this aspect of the story so moving—how fantasy can be a refuge, but also a kind of prison.
2026-03-30 16:39:20
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