Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
Written in the context of family life
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Gloomy, joyous, rejuvenating
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the book is called Bee, a fifteen-year-old girl.
Major Conflict
Bernadette disappears, and everyone is worried about her well-being. Elgin realizes that his wife is missing while having an affair with his mistress. However, later Bee learns of her mother's whereabouts when she learns that her friend helped her escape. Other people think that Bernadette is dead.
Climax
At last, Elgin and Bee reunite with Bernadette in Antarctica. They enjoy the trip and vacation. Bernadette is not angry at Elgin even after cheating on her with his mistress in the early days.
Foreshadowing
Elgin’s illicit relationship with his lover foreshadowed future trouble in his marriage.
Understatement
Happiness in marriage is understated. The marriage between Elgin and Bernadette outwardly looks joyous, but in reality, it is full of troubles. Bernadette escapes after realizing that her husband is seeing another mistress.
Allusions
The story alludes to marital problems. For instance, Elgin is left by Bernadette when he starts having a side woman.
Imagery
The images of Seattle’s sky are perfect sight imagery. The author writes, “Every feeling I ever knew was up in that sky. Twinkling joyous sunlight; airy, giggling cloud wisps; blinding columns of sun. Orbs of gold, pink, flesh, utterly cheesy in their luminosity.”
Paradox
The paradox is that Bee knows her mother's whereabouts, but Elgin is not aware until she leads him to Antarctica.
Parallelism
Bee’s intelligence in school parallels her mother’s prowess in architecture and other matters in education.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Antarctica refers to a place that solves the love mystery between Eglin and Bernadette.
Personification
N/A
