The Most Literary Elements

Domestic Fiction

The story is set in 1957, in suburban Newark, Delaware.

The novel alternates between the third-person perspectives of the main characters, Kathleen and Virgil Beckett.

The tone is reflective, darkly humorous, and melancholic. The mood is suspenseful and introspective.

Protagonist: Kathleen Beckett; Antagonist: Virgil Beckett

The major conflict arises from Kathleen’s growing dissatisfaction with her life as a suburban housewife and her increasing desire for something beyond the roles assigned to her. Her refusal to leave the pool represents a deeper internal struggle with her identity, while Virgil’s response to her rebellion embodies the societal pressures of conformity.

The climax occurs when Kathleen remains in the swimming pool and refuses to come out despite her husband's pleas.

The mention of Sputnik 2 and the doomed dog, Laika, foreshadows the sense of impending doom and sacrifice that permeates the novel.

When Virgil asks, "What's going on? What are you doing?" Kathleen simply responds, "I feel perfectly fine"—downplaying the significance of her act of defiance.

There are allusions to mid-century American life, particularly the societal expectations placed on women in the 1950s.

There is rich imagery surrounding the swimming pool, which becomes a symbol of Kathleen's emotional state. The description of the pool—“the glistening, kidney-shaped, turquoise-blue community swimming pool.”

The central paradox in the novel is that while Kathleen's life appears stable and comfortable—a loving family and financial security—she feels utterly dissatisfied.

Kathleen reflects on both her past life as a tennis champion and her current reality as a suburban housewife. The novel frequently contrasts these two phases to emphasize the gulf between her past independence and present domesticity.

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The pool is consistently personified throughout the novel.