The narratives in Sea War and Other Stories follow characters battling for, and against, their own freedom to act. Some (Sean in "The Believer," Lizzy in "The Summer Queen") find relief in self-made cages, doggedly following behind other characters who seem to know exactly what they want. Others (Brian in "Elijah," Irene in "Passenger," Dorie in "Raven") feel cornered by their own decisions. They struggle to navigate social situations after realizing their predicaments have been shaped by feelings of insecurity rather than goals. And others (Ellen in "Come Down to the Water," Eileen in "New Weather," and the narrator in "Sea War") see their abilities and ideals falter to forces beyond their control while in pursuit of noble ends.