Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Throughout Somewhere Beyond the Sea, queer and queer-coded characters demonstrate how queer joy can stand in opposition to attempts to enforce norms that exclude and oppress individual people and stigmatized groups. The government of the unnamed country in which the story is set tries to enforce a hierarchy that privileges the non-magical; its two most prominent representatives among the story’s characters—Rowder and Marblemaw—both actively promote heteronormativity. For example, Rowder mocks Lucy’s name as not appropriate for a boy, and Marblemaw tries to convince Talia to shave off her beard and criticizes her for not behaving in a ladylike way. The government has specific agencies devoted to registering magical beings and regulating their lives—particularly their living arrangements and education. No such equivalents are mentioned for non-magical beings.

Arthur, Linus, and their children all stand in opposition to these sources of oppression. Arthur explicitly positions the joy of his relationship with Linus in opposition to the government when he invites Linus to dance in the bugged hotel room, saying, “Let them listen to what joy sounds like. Maybe they’ll learn a thing or two” (56). Their love for one another and the happiness it brings them is a central focus of the text and gives them the strength that they need to fight the government’s attempts to split apart their home.