Argonauta Summary and Analysis

A rare shell the author is not able to find is that of the Argonauta. The Argonauta is an unusual creature that is not attached to its shell at all. It is a cradle for the young, held in the mother Argonaut's arms until the egg hatches and swims away. The shell is then left behind while the mother sets out to seek a new life. The author sheds any melancholy and allows herself to be entranced by the concept of the Argonauta shell. It is freer than the other shells and is the best representation of the middle years of life. The children have gone and the mother is left to venture out to sea in search of the unknown next step. Fear accompanies the unknown and limits the experiences one may have in this new phase.

This shell is...