Beyond The Dead Reef By James Tiptree Jr.

The main theme in “Beyond the Dead Reef” by James Tiptree Jr. is revenge. In this short story, the theme of revenge can be described as caution for the future. The narrator almost ends up dying because he had accidentally offended Jorge and his family. His companion says, “The upshot of it was that you not only insulted his boat in various ways, but you ended by referring to his mother as a dog… He was going to take you out beyond the Dead Reef and leave you there” (Tiptree p. 379). It is clear that the narrator did not mean to insult Jorge’s family, and Jorge’s actions were a mistake. The theme of revenge arises again when the narrator’s companion explains his thoughts on his adventure in the Dead Reef in the following quote: “It has something