Bear

The economic disadvantages that Sam and Elena face fuel much of the tension throughout the novel. The reasons for their situation are multifold: The island where they reside is small, thus limiting the number of available jobs; travel between the islands is possible only by ferry, and daily travel to another island or to the mainland for employment isn’t reasonable. Neither Sam nor Elena has advanced education, further limiting the kinds of jobs open to them. Similarly, they weren’t born into a family of privilege: Neither their mother nor their grandmother had extra money, so the sisters must (like the women before them in the family) make their own way in the world. The global COVID-19 pandemic further limits employment opportunities: Sam’s employer—the local ferry system—temporarily shuts down. These factors, combined with their mother’s illness, drain the sisters’ meager savings and daily earnings.

This economic hardship not only forces the women to live cautiously and frugally but also introduces mental and emotional stress that weighs both of them down. Life becomes a series of mundane tasks. For Sam, work isn’t enjoyable but something she endures. Missing a day of work isn’t an option due to the sisters’ extreme need for money.