Question

In the short story, "The Glass of Milk" the writer mentions the SEA a lot. This is not an accident. He uses the sea as metaphor in the main character's life. What do you think the SEA means to the boy? Give at least one example from the story as evidence.
WORTH 98 POINTS.

Answer 1

The short story “The Glass of Milk" by Manuel Rojas deals with the main theme “loneliness, despair, poverty and relief”. The author refers to the sea in many instances throughout the short story. Along the passages, he makes a comparison between the sea and the city. According to the point of view of the main character, the poor boy, the city is a disgusting and odd place to him. It does not belong to him as well as it rejects him. Close to the sea, he feels relief as it is considered a peaceful place where he can just rest or wonder freely. The Sea is a different and separated side of the city because of its beauty and open place. The sound of the sea waves and the blue colour of the sea provides him a quiet and hopeful atmosphere.  

In the las passage, the allusion to the sea represents the above idea stated:

“Then he sat down on a pile of burlap sacks; fatigue, like a tingling sensation, climbed up his legs. He looked at the sea. The lights of the wharf and ships spread over the water in a reddish-gold ripple, trembling softly. He stretched out on his back, looking up at the sky for a long time. He did not feel like thinking, or singing, or talking. He just felt alive, that was all. Then he fell asleep with his face toward the sea.”  

Answer 2

In the short story "The Glass of Milk" by Manuel Rojas, the boy sees the sea as a representation of freedom. The boy looks out to the sea often because he is free to do and travel as he please. In contrast to the sea, the writer describes the great city as "... a place of slavery:  stale, dark, without the grand sweep of the sea; among its high walls and narrow streets people lived and died bewildered by agonizing drudgery.