The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer Summary, Characters and Themes
The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer is a thought-provoking novel that explores the complexity of family dynamics, secrets, and the long-lasting impact of past events. Set in two time periods, the story centers on Bee, a woman in Portland, Maine, grappling with motherhood, strained family relationships, and the mysterious disappearance of a girl from her past.
The novel unfolds through Bee’s reflections on her life, her complicated ties to her brother Gus, and her unresolved feelings for an old friend, Leo. As Bee reconnects with her past, she uncovers hidden truths that force her to confront her family’s darkest secrets, forever altering the course of her future.
Summary
In 1987, a young girl stands by a guardrail in Austin, Texas, watching as bulldozers approach a field she has cherished for years. The field, filled with bluebonnets and wildlife, has been a place where she has spent countless hours.
She is thirteen, and while she understands the rules her father has set for her, she cannot bear the thought of the field being destroyed. Her thoughts drift to a boy who often visited the field, a boy with curly hair and a kind face.
She imagines that he will come by tonight and that he will find the note she has left for him, a note that expresses her goodbye to the field. As the evening grows darker, she waits, but the boy never comes, and the note remains hidden between the slats of the fence.
The bulldozers draw closer, signaling the end of an era for her.
Fast forward to 2011 in Portland, Maine, where Bee, now a new mother, reflects on her past. Bee feels disconnected from her former life, especially the time she spent with her twin brother Gus and their old friend Leo.
The challenges of motherhood have overwhelmed her, and she struggles with the physical and emotional toll it has taken on her. Her husband, Charlie, tries to support her, but Bee remains emotionally distant, haunted by her complicated relationships with her family.
Her thoughts often return to Leo, and when he unexpectedly reaches out, she is drawn back into the past. Leo invites her for a drink, and as they reconnect, old emotions surface, particularly regarding her brother Gus, who has been estranged from her since their father’s death.
Leo reveals that Gus has been living a transient life but now wants to reconnect.
Bee is left with a mixture of emotions. She has longed for a connection with Gus, but the years of distance have made the prospect of reconciliation seem almost impossible.
Meanwhile, she tries to focus on her new role as a mother, though the weight of the past continues to linger in her thoughts. Back in Austin in 1987, Mary Rowan, Bee’s mother, is reflecting on her own life.
The field is about to be destroyed, and she feels a deep sense of loss, not only for the field but also for the distance growing between her and her children. She worries about Gus, who has been struggling with his own issues, and Bee, who has been pulling away from the family.
As she watches Gus sneak out to meet Leo, Mary feels a mix of concern and resignation. She knows that her children must find their own paths, but she cannot help but fear the changes that are coming.
The story transitions between these two time periods, with the characters grappling with their own unresolved issues. Bee’s mind often drifts back to her childhood, where memories of the field and her complicated relationships with Gus and Leo still haunt her.
She feels disconnected from her family and her old life, which she now views through a lens of nostalgia and longing. When she learns about Leo’s return to Portland, it stirs up old feelings, and she decides to meet him.
Their reunion is charged with tension, as they both confront their pasts and the way they have drifted apart. During their conversation, Leo mentions Gus and his struggles, leaving Bee wondering about the possibility of reconnecting with her brother.
Bee’s search for answers leads her to confront not only her past but also the deep-seated secrets her family has kept hidden. As she struggles with her own identity, she feels torn between her current life as a mother and wife, and the unresolved emotions tied to her family.
Meanwhile, Diana, a scholar at the University of Texas, is focused on her research into the ancient sanctuary at Brauron. Diana is particularly interested in the rituals of the arktoi, girls dedicated to the goddess Artemis, as she believes that studying these rituals might offer insight into her own troubled relationship with her son, Leo.
Diana’s obsession with her research leads her to uncover disturbing connections to the disappearance of Deecie Jeffries, a young girl who went missing years ago.
Diana’s deteriorating relationship with her husband Derek and her strained connection with her son Leo add to the weight of her growing suspicion. She discovers a pink flip-flop in her yard, and the realization that it might be connected to Deecie’s disappearance leads her down a dark path.
As Diana unravels the mystery, her personal life continues to spiral out of control. Her research on the arktoi becomes a way for her to cope with her emotional turmoil, but it also distances her further from her family.
Diana’s isolation deepens as she questions the choices she has made and the direction her life is headed.
The mystery of Deecie’s disappearance becomes central to the story as Bee, Diana, and other characters begin to confront the past. Bee’s memories of her childhood and the secrets surrounding Deecie’s case lead her to uncover hidden truths about her family.
As Bee reconnects with Gus and her mother, she learns shocking revelations about their past. Gus admits that he was once close to Leo and that the two had planned to run away together, but their plans were interrupted.
He also reveals that Leo was connected to Deecie’s disappearance, having seen her the night she went missing and hiding a pair of shoes that belonged to her.
As Bee uncovers more secrets, she begins to piece together the truth about what happened to Deecie. Her search for closure leads her to confront the complicated web of lies and secrets her family has been hiding for years.
In the end, Bee must come to terms with the past and find a way to move forward, even as the unresolved mystery of Deecie’s disappearance continues to haunt her.
The narrative weaves together the lives of Bee, Diana, and the other characters, each struggling with their own personal demons and the weight of the past. Through their journeys, they uncover long-hidden truths and must confront the consequences of their actions.
The story highlights the impact of family secrets, the difficulty of facing painful truths, and the power of memory in shaping one’s identity. The Undercurrent is a powerful exploration of the complexities of family, loss, and the search for redemption.
Characters
Bee
Bee is a central character in The Undercurrent whose emotional journey is profoundly shaped by her complex family dynamics and her struggle to reconcile her past with her present. Living in Portland, Maine in 2011, she is a new mother to her daughter, Attie, yet she remains haunted by the unresolved issues from her childhood and the strained relationships she shares with her brother Gus and their old friend Leo.
Her sense of disconnection from her family and her past is pervasive, particularly as she grapples with the emotional distance between herself and Gus, especially after their father’s death and the traumatic experiences that followed. Bee’s introspection is constantly interrupted by the responsibilities of motherhood, leaving her to navigate the conflicting emotions that surface when she reconnects with Leo.
This reconnection brings old emotions to the forefront, particularly her sense of guilt over her past actions, including a brief affair with Leo. Despite her attempts to focus on her new life with her husband Charlie, Bee finds herself drawn back to the unresolved mysteries of her childhood, particularly the disappearance of Deecie Jeffries.
Her emotional turmoil is further deepened as she confronts the darkness hidden within her family’s past, ultimately realizing that she must face these truths to move forward.
Mary Rowan
Mary Rowan, Bee’s mother, is a figure defined by a sense of quiet resignation and maternal concern. Living in Austin, Texas, in 1987, Mary is caught in the shifting dynamics of her family and the impending changes to their environment, symbolized by the bulldozers coming to destroy the beloved field that holds so many memories.
She reflects on her own life, especially her relationship with her children, Bee and Gus, and the growing distance between them. While she is deeply concerned about Gus, who is struggling with his own demons, Mary is more resigned when it comes to Bee, whom she perceives as emotionally distant.
She understands that her children must forge their own paths, yet her deep maternal instincts are constantly at odds with the fragmented state of her family. Her silent struggles culminate in a series of revelations about the secrets she has kept, particularly regarding Deecie Jeffries’ disappearance.
Mary’s role in protecting Gus and the family from the painful truths becomes central, with her own emotional turmoil and the secrets she hides playing a pivotal role in the narrative. Despite her attempts to shield her children, Mary’s life is irrevocably shaped by her own decisions, the consequences of which she must ultimately face.
Gus
Gus is Bee’s twin brother, and much of his life has been marked by self-doubt, pain, and emotional turbulence. In The Undercurrent, Gus appears as a character deeply affected by the loss of their father and the subsequent unraveling of his family.
Gus’s troubled relationship with Bee and his struggles with addiction are central to his characterization. He has distanced himself from Bee, particularly since their father’s death, and he feels disconnected from the family.
Despite his emotional distance, he harbors a sense of guilt over his past, particularly his involvement with Leo and the mysterious disappearance of Deecie Jeffries. Gus shares a complicated bond with Leo, and though they were once close, their relationship became fraught with tension and unspoken secrets.
His decision to return home to care for their mother, Mary, who is in a deteriorating mental state, reflects his deep sense of responsibility and his desire to make amends. As the truth about Deecie’s disappearance slowly unravels, Gus’s role becomes more apparent, revealing the hidden layers of his character, including the painful choices he made in his past that have shaped his present.
Leo
Leo, a key figure from Bee and Gus’s childhood, is a character defined by complexity and secrecy. Throughout the narrative, he is portrayed as enigmatic and distant, harboring a turbulent relationship with both Gus and Bee.
In their youth, Leo shared a close bond with Gus, marked by shared experiences and emotional closeness. However, as the years pass, Leo becomes a source of mystery, especially when his involvement in the disappearance of Deecie Jeffries is hinted at.
His actions, including the hiding of Deecie’s shoes, speak to a deep internal conflict and fear of being implicated in the case. Despite the guilt he carries, Leo is not the one who offers answers easily, choosing instead to keep the truth to himself for years.
His interactions with Bee in 2011 reveal the emotional scars left by their past relationship, particularly the brief romantic tension they shared. Leo’s role in the mystery of Deecie’s disappearance complicates the narrative, as his reluctance to fully confront his past holds significant weight in the unraveling of the story.
Diana
Diana, an academic at the University of Texas, is a character who is grappling with both her professional and personal struggles. Her research on the ancient sanctuary at Brauron, dedicated to the goddess Artemis, serves as an outlet for her, offering a semblance of control and understanding amidst the chaos in her personal life.
Diana is fascinated by the concept of wildness, particularly in the rituals of the arktoi girls, and seeks answers through her studies, hoping that understanding their experiences will provide clarity for her own troubled relationship with her son, Leo. Her marriage to Derek is falling apart, and the emotional strain she feels in her professional life is mirrored by the disintegration of her home life.
Diana’s growing obsession with Deecie Jeffries’ disappearance leads her to suspect that Leo may be involved, but the deeper she digs, the more she becomes isolated from those around her. Diana’s struggle to find meaning in both her research and her personal life illustrates the tension between intellect and emotion, a theme that runs throughout the novel.
Her academic pursuits, though important, become increasingly overshadowed by the need to reconcile with her own family’s dark secrets, particularly her complicated relationship with Leo.
Themes
The Struggle Between the Past and Present
The tension between holding onto the past and moving forward is a central theme in The Undercurrent. Bee’s life in 2011 is defined by this conflict, as she is unable to fully embrace her present life with her husband, Charlie, and their daughter, Attie.
Her mind is often occupied by unresolved issues from her past, particularly the strained relationships with her brother Gus and her old friend Leo. This emotional baggage is intensified by her obsession with the disappearance of Deecie Jeffries, a missing girl from her childhood.
Bee’s actions, such as creating a website dedicated to remembering missing girls, serve as a coping mechanism to deal with her feelings of guilt, grief, and longing for closure. Her inability to move beyond these past events shows the deep emotional scars they have left, affecting both her relationship with her family and her sense of self.
At the same time, the relationships she tries to maintain, particularly with her husband Charlie, are colored by the shadows of these past events, as she struggles to keep her emotions and memories at bay. The theme demonstrates the inescapable nature of the past, where memories and unresolved issues continue to influence the present, often in ways that complicate personal growth and stability.
Family Secrets and Unresolved Truths
Another key theme in The Undercurrent is the presence of long-hidden family secrets that shape the characters’ lives. The disappearance of Deecie Jeffries acts as a metaphor for the larger hidden truths within the Rowan family.
Each member of the family is harboring their own secrets, from Gus’s evasion of his past actions to Mary’s silence about her involvement in the mystery of Deecie’s disappearance. These secrets create a sense of distance and mistrust, leading to the unraveling of familial bonds.
Bee, in particular, is caught in the midst of these hidden truths, unsure of who to trust and what to believe as she uncovers more information about the past. Her decision to confront Leo and ask him directly about the night Deecie disappeared represents her attempt to bring these buried truths to the surface, even at the cost of her emotional well-being.
The theme of family secrets also extends to the way each character deals with their internal turmoil, as they avoid confronting the painful realities of their past in order to maintain a semblance of normalcy. The eventual revelation of these secrets forces Bee to confront not only her family’s dark history but also the role she has played in maintaining the silence.
The Burden of Motherhood and the Loss of Self
The complexities of motherhood are explored deeply in The Undercurrent, particularly through Bee’s experiences in 2011. Although motherhood should bring joy and fulfillment, Bee finds herself overwhelmed by the physical and emotional demands it places on her.
Her sense of identity is in flux, as she navigates the challenging transition from a free-spirited woman with a complicated past to a mother who feels the weight of responsibility. The novel shows how the arrival of her daughter Attie exacerbates the emotional strain Bee is already feeling, as she is forced to balance her desire for connection with her old life and the growing responsibilities of caring for her family.
Bee struggles with her relationship with her husband, Charlie, and the emotional baggage from her past, all while trying to be a good mother. Her obsession with her missing childhood friend, Deecie Jeffries, reflects a longing for the carefree days before she was burdened by the responsibilities of adulthood.
The theme highlights how motherhood, while deeply fulfilling, can also lead to a loss of self as women grapple with societal expectations, personal desires, and the complexities of their own identities.
The Impact of Tragedy on Personal Identity
The characters in The Undercurrent are profoundly shaped by the tragedies they have experienced, from the death of Bee and Gus’s father to the disappearance of Deecie Jeffries. Each tragedy leaves a lasting imprint on their personal identities, influencing the way they relate to others and view the world.
Bee’s grief over her father’s death and the subsequent dissolution of her relationship with Gus show how deeply personal tragedy can alter one’s sense of self and connection to others. For Diana, the scholar in 1987, the trauma of a failing marriage and her troubled relationship with her son Leo lead her to an obsession with ancient rituals, seeking meaning in the past to understand her own fractured life.
The characters’ search for closure or understanding of their past is directly tied to how they navigate their personal identities. Tragedy has shaped their lives in ways they cannot easily escape, and the novel explores the complex ways in which individuals try to find meaning in their suffering.
Whether through academic pursuits, obsessive rituals, or emotional reconnections, each character seeks a sense of resolution or peace from the scars left by tragedy. However, the story shows that while tragedy shapes them, it does not necessarily provide the answers they are looking for, often leaving them with more questions than clarity.
The Symbolism of the Field
The field in The Undercurrent serves as a powerful symbol of innocence, memories, and the passage of time. For the young girl in 1987, the field represents a place of freedom and connection to nature, where she experiences the joy and beauty of childhood.
However, as the bulldozers approach, it signifies the loss of that innocence and the inevitability of change. The field’s destruction parallels the shifting dynamics within the family, as it is replaced by something new, just as the characters must move on from their pasts and adapt to new realities.
For Bee, the field represents the memories of her childhood, a time before the tragedies and emotional scars that would come to define her adult life. As she reflects on her past, she is forced to confront the reality that some things, like the field, can never be reclaimed.
The field symbolizes the transient nature of life, the inevitability of loss, and the struggle to preserve the past while moving forward into an uncertain future. Through the destruction of the field, the novel underscores the theme of impermanence, reminding readers that both the physical and emotional landscapes we cherish are subject to change and decay.