Gift From The Sea

To what extent is the ideal “argonauta” relationship possible within contemporary Western culture? What are the factors that encourage or hinder its development?

Consider Lindbergh’s discussion of solitude in Gift from the Sea. Is the greatest reason people tend to flee from solitude the social stigma attached to being alone or the pain that results from being separated from a loved one? Has the development of social media affected this issue?

To what extent is it possible to recapture the original excitement of the first stages of a relationship? Discuss this in connection with Lindbergh’s account of the “double-sunrise” shell.

How relevant is Gift from the Sea to women in the 21st century? Discuss this in connection both with the postscript and with Lindbergh’s account of married life.

Consider the role of creative labor and activity in Gift from the Sea. Does automation necessarily make an activity less conducive to developing contemplative habits?

Consider the role of memory and forgetting in the text. Can nostalgia for the double-sunrise stage of a relationship be a good thing? What is its role in sustaining a relationship?

To what extent is it possible to maintain the natural rhythms of the sea once one returns to the busyness of the suburbs? Discuss this in connection with Lindbergh’s use of shells as a prompt and an inspiration to memory.

Consider the difference between standard nonfiction and inspirational nonfiction in connection with Gift from the Sea. What are the most significant differences between the two genres?