Question

Read the excerpt from Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

He looked up and down the coast. If he saw even a single soul prowling the shore, he would light out. But there were only gulls. Across the water a line of trembling smoke rose high and then spread out. Otherwise, it was as if God had just remade the world for him, and he was Adam waking up, an entire globe to explore.

How does Turner’s internal conflict as the preacher’s son relate to the setting of the empty beach?

Turner is glad the beach is empty; he was curious about the smoke in the air and wanted to investigate it on his own.
Turner is relieved the beach is empty; he hates being watched by the townspeople because he is the preacher’s son.
Turner is happy that the beach is empty; he is wearing his white shirt, and as the preacher’s son, he is not supposed to get his shirt dirty.

Answer 1

The second statement is correct.

The empty beach relieves Turner because, as the preacher’s son, he feels constantly watched and judged by the townspeople. The lines “If he saw even a single soul prowling the shore, he would light out” and “as if God had just remade the world for him, and he was Adam waking up” show that solitude frees him to explore and be himself away from the scrutiny tied to his family role.