The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

1. The Light Between Oceans
by M.L. Stedman
Mini analysis and summary
Ferhat BÜLBÜL 2014, KLAIPEDA

2. Details of the Novel
 Author: M.L. Stedman
 Book: The Light between Oceans
 Publishing year: April, 2013
 Publisher: Scribner; e-book edition
 Pages: 352
 Type: Novel
 Literature period: The Contemporary Period

3. Plot Summary
 Tom Sherbourne has just left service in WWI after four harrowing
years on the Western Front, he returns to Australia and takes a job
as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s
journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply
boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, brave, and
loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after three miscarriages, the
grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has
washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.
Tom, who keeps accurate records and whose moral principles
have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant
immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and
against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name
her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland
and they are reminded that there are other people in the world.
Their choice has devastated one of them, Lucy’s reall family. Novel
ends with Tom’s and his wife Isabels grief and pains.

4. Themes
 Family
I guess the most prevalent theme in the novel is Family. Plot
surrounds one couple's desire to become parents regardless of
the consequences. Unfortunately, their dream of starting a
family never come true due to Isabel’s a series of miscarriage.
As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that families are
often forged sacrifice, and by the end of the novel, i see that
true love and determination can overcome any obstacle.
Families are much more than groups of individuals. They have
their own goals and aspirations. Conflicts and disagreements
are a normal part of family life and are important as they
permit people to communicate their differences and respect
each other.

5. Themes
 Isolation
Throughout the novel, protagonist Tom feels isolated by his
choices. He loves isolation as it gives power for defence
towards his fears and quiltness. First, he feels isolated as a child
when his parents' marriage fall apart and loses his relationship
with them. Now he has a family but still he likes isolation and
that feeling against being family. It is true that staying away
form reality keeps yourself greater but life is reality and no way
out. Tom maybe relieve his guilt however isolation would never
be the solution of problems.

6. Themes
 Guilt
At the opening of the novel, Tom is ruined by guilt of being
alive and healthy after so many good men died. This has
made Tom a martyr, and is the reason why he doesn't feel
comfortable interacting with other people. It is a masochistic
way of living.
Everyone experiences guilt at one time or another during their
life. While some guilt can induce positive change, it can also
become self-destructive, wasting energy and adding stress to
your life. If you cannot eliminate, or at least minimize, your guilt
life would be unbearable. We have to take action to control it.

7. Once for all
 The novel is admirable and close to reality. It is easy
understand the meaning but hard to read it as second
language learner that of author’s complex language and
structure and what more is that it deals with the inner workings
and emotions of many characters. But plot and the general
meaning is discoverable.
 «The Light Between Oceans» is an incredible novel about what
happens when good people make bad decisions.