Unraveling Mysteries: Identities and Roles in 'Ocean Sea'

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The Ocean Sea novel by Alesandro Baricco is a unique novel of several people who have different identities, goals and functions. All of the characters have somehow ended up in the Almayer Inn. The Ocean Sea defines all of the people in their identities, goals and functions except one unseen, but felt man who live in the seventh room of the Almayer Inn. Baricco distinguishes the Almayer Inn from other ordinary inns not only by giving some clues of an existing of a spiritual power in the Almayer Inn, but also by its location and its different guests. The Almayer Inn is on the beach and the guests are several people who have nothing in common; they do not share an age neither a goal. However, there is a mysterious man who live in the seventh room of the Almayer Inn and believed to be playing a significant part of all of the other people in the novel. In the end of the novel, the mysterious man leaves his room and disappears. Analyzing the facts that the children “the hosts” and the mysterious man were in the Almayer Inn first and leave last, children read their guests’ minds, act like …show more content…

They seek love, revenge or absolution, and the achievement of these goals are felt by the heart, mind and soul rather than being felt physically. …Maybe transition needed… “All of the characters who end up at the Almayer are desperately seeking something, whether it be love, revenge or absolution. All have come to the Almayer as their last option” (Yarberry). That makes the Almayer Inn more like a spiritual place; such as, Mosques and Churches where people pray to make their souls comfortable. This point is proven by Yarberry, “The inn appears to occupy a spiritual rather than physical space” (Yarberry). Therefore, since the Almayer Inn is spiritual place, the question of who is the Godhead and where he lives, can be asked. The answer is in the end of the Ocean Sea, chapter

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