Good Dirt Chapter 59: La Mer – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Ebby has had enough of Avery’s company. While waiting for Henry to be discharged from the hospital, Ebby plans to make herself unavailable until the rental car is ready. But when Avery suggests a trip to the seaside the next morning, Ebby relents—she misses the coast and agrees to drive. At the beach, Avery surprises Ebby with a joke about dimethyl sulfide, breaking the tension. Ebby has Googled Avery and sees her as a perfect, accomplished attorney. This prompts Ebby to bitterly recall how Henry ghosted her on their wedding day, exposing her to public humiliation. Yet Ebby still feels a lingering ache for Henry. When Avery asks whether Ebby’s love of the sea comes from an “African water-spirit thing,” Ebby bristles at the racial assumption. Avery clarifies that she believes the sea connects all humans and mentions her own German heritage of sea deities. The conversation leads Ebby to think of Willis Freeman, who saw the sea as a gateway to a new life. Determined to avoid Henry, Ebby resolves to be gone when he returns home.
Key Events
- Ebby decides to put distance between herself and Avery, but agrees to drive to the coast after Avery mentions la mer.
- At the beach, Avery makes a crude joke about “algae farts,” making Ebby laugh and softening the mood.
- Ebby researches Avery online and learns she is a highly regarded young attorney.
- Ebby reflects on Henry’s abandonment at the altar and feels both anger and a painful residual love.
- Avery brings up the concept of African water spirits, leading to a tense exchange about heritage.
- Avery shares her own family stories of German shape-shifting sea deities and argues that the sea is universally part of human nature.
- Ebby connects Avery’s view to her ancestor Willis Freeman, who recognized the sea as a path to a new life.
- Ebby makes a firm plan to leave the house before Henry returns from the hospital.
Character Development
- Ebby: Reveals her deep vulnerability regarding Henry’s betrayal, yet shows strength in deciding to avoid him. She is protective of her heritage and sensitive to racial assumptions, as seen in her sharp reaction to Avery’s question.
- Avery: Breaks her polished image with an unexpected laugh and a crude joke, showing a quirky, relatable side. Her philosophical reflection on the sea indicates she is thoughtful and open-minded, not merely a cold attorney.
- Henry (off-page): Remains a figure of unresolved pain for Ebby. Her assessment that “nothing excuses the fact that he didn’t call her on their wedding day” solidifies his role as a cowardly betrayer.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The sea as universal connector: Avery argues that the sea is part of all humans, transcending culture. Ebby’s love of the coast echoes this idea, though she prefers a personal and ancestral explanation.
- Heritage and assumption: Avery’s question about African water spirits provokes Ebby’s ire, highlighting how others project racial narratives onto her. The chapter contrasts two views of heritage: one rooted in specific lineage, another in shared human experience.
- Control and independence: Ebby insists on driving, wanting to be in control. Her plan to avoid Henry is an act of reclaiming agency after the public humiliation of his ghosting.
- The lingering pain of betrayal: Ebby’s chest tremor when thinking of Henry shows that love does not vanish even when the mind knows better. This emotional complexity underscores the chapter’s realism.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 59 deepens the subplot between Ebby and Avery, showing that Avery is more than a rival figure and that Ebby must confront her own biases. The seaside setting allows both characters to reveal hidden facets of themselves—Avery’s humor and philosophy, Ebby’s defensive pride and unresolved grief. The conversation about water spirits directly ties Ebby’s contemporary story to the novel’s historical threads, especially Willis Freeman’s transformative encounter with the sea. Ebby’s decision to leave the house marks a turning point in her journey toward self-protection and independence, setting the stage for her inevitable confrontation with Henry.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Ebby change her mind about going to the coast with Avery?
Ebby misses living near the sea and finds the word “coast” irresistible. Although she originally planned to avoid Avery, the promise of a beach outing outweighs her discomfort, and she insists on driving to maintain a sense of control.
2. What does Avery’s joke about “algae farts” reveal about her character?
The joke shows that Avery can be playful and self-deprecating, contradicting Ebby’s image of her as a perfect, serious attorney. It also creates an unexpected moment of connection between the two women, allowing Ebby to see a more human side of Avery.
3. How does the conversation about water spirits reflect the novel’s broader themes of identity and heritage?
Avery’s assumption that Ebby’s connection to the sea stems from an “African water-spirit thing” exposes the tension between imposed racial identity and personal history. Avery then offers a counterpoint by describing her own German sea-deity stories and arguing that the sea belongs to everyone. This exchange mirrors the novel’s exploration of how characters define themselves—through family legacy, cultural narrative, or universal human experience.