The Lifeguard
Analysis of ‘‘The Lifeguard’’ by Mary Morris
‘‘The Lifeguard’’ by Mary Morris is a short story that focusses on change over time. A lifeguard accustomed to be the lord of all he surveys and with a big self-esteem, has a rude awakening when he proves deficient in the first aid needed to save a toddler, Becky, on the beach. The author demonstrates that we realise what we have only when a shattering event occurs. Trough characterization, foreshadowing and symbolism, Morris infers that once we realise what we have, it’s too late.
The character outlook of what he sees has clearly changed from the beginning to the end of the story. At first, the lifeguard saw the beach just as a way of being seen and appreciated by the girls and envied by the other man. He was narcissistic, ‘‘Girls clung to my stand, […] and I could do no wrong’’ (p.98) and the way he was always talking about how much he loved his body, and it made him lose the real reason why he was at the beach. He wanted to be admired by people on the beach. But when a child almost died in his arm because he was not really aware of what was going on near him and his incapacity to save Becky started to bother him. So he went to Mrs. Lovenheim’s house, where he realised something profound on the emptiness of his live. He thought he had all what he wanted, but the most important was missing, true love. This reality changed his perception of life as he said: ‘’I’ve never seen the water and the umbrellas of summer in the same way again’’ (p.105). Mrs. Lovenheim made him fall into despair as she left him at the doorstep, him, the lifeguard who had a tremendous self-confidence.
Ric Spencer acted as a foreshadowing character. He clearly missed the time where he was lifeguard. As soon as he could, he was going close to Josh to talk about the old time when he used to be lifeguard. Ric often gave advices to Josh to always be careful, because only a split second of distraction and a bad event, like the drowning of Billy
‘‘The Lifeguard’’ by Mary Morris is a short story that focusses on change over time. A lifeguard accustomed to be the lord of all he surveys and with a big self-esteem, has a rude awakening when he proves deficient in the first aid needed to save a toddler, Becky, on the beach. The author demonstrates that we realise what we have only when a shattering event occurs. Trough characterization, foreshadowing and symbolism, Morris infers that once we realise what we have, it’s too late.
The character outlook of what he sees has clearly changed from the beginning to the end of the story. At first, the lifeguard saw the beach just as a way of being seen and appreciated by the girls and envied by the other man. He was narcissistic, ‘‘Girls clung to my stand, […] and I could do no wrong’’ (p.98) and the way he was always talking about how much he loved his body, and it made him lose the real reason why he was at the beach. He wanted to be admired by people on the beach. But when a child almost died in his arm because he was not really aware of what was going on near him and his incapacity to save Becky started to bother him. So he went to Mrs. Lovenheim’s house, where he realised something profound on the emptiness of his live. He thought he had all what he wanted, but the most important was missing, true love. This reality changed his perception of life as he said: ‘’I’ve never seen the water and the umbrellas of summer in the same way again’’ (p.105). Mrs. Lovenheim made him fall into despair as she left him at the doorstep, him, the lifeguard who had a tremendous self-confidence.
Ric Spencer acted as a foreshadowing character. He clearly missed the time where he was lifeguard. As soon as he could, he was going close to Josh to talk about the old time when he used to be lifeguard. Ric often gave advices to Josh to always be careful, because only a split second of distraction and a bad event, like the drowning of Billy