By the Sea

How does Gurnah’s use of a dual first-person narrative, where each narrator is explicitly unreliable, force the reader to become an active participant in the construction of historical truth?

Explore the function of the novel’s dual settings. How does Gurnah juxtapose the world of Zanzibar, defined by the monsoon trade, with the sterile, melancholic atmosphere of the English seaside town to explore the psychological experience of exile?

The novel uses furniture as a recurring motif. Analyze the contrast between the historical, personally significant furniture from Zanzibar, like the ebony table, and the mass-produced items Saleh observes in English warehouses. What does this contrast reveal about memory, identity, and the nature of “home” in a diasporic context?

Discuss the function of literary allusions in By the Sea. How do these intertextual moments allow the characters to articulate experiences of trauma, silence, and dispossession?

While the central conflict is between men, analyze the crucial roles of Asha Mahmud and Bi Maryam in shaping the dispute. How do their actions, driven by agency and revenge, challenge a purely patrilineal understanding of the feud and its consequences?

Discuss the significance of the novel’s title. Given the novel’s thematic concerns, what is the significance of Saleh living “by the sea” in both Zanzibar and England?

Consider Hussein’s role as the novel’s primary antagonist. How does this role resonate with the broader history of Zanzibar as a hub of trade?

Does Rachel Howard undergo a significant transformation in her understanding of asylum and narrative? Analyze her character arc to argue whether she ultimately transcends her role as a professional “case” builder.