Jerry's mother's parenting style is characterized by a balance between granting him freedom and ensuring his safety. She consciously avoids being overly possessive while remaining devoted, allowing Jerry to explore and grow independently. Despite her concerns for his safety and decision-making, she prioritizes his need for independence. Her approach reflects a common parental conflict: wanting to protect while also fostering a child's autonomy and growth.

Jerry prepares for his swim through the tunnel by practicing holding his breath, watching local boys to understand the challenge, and using swim goggles to familiarize himself with the underwater passage. Despite experiencing nosebleeds and fear, he is determined and trains obsessively, submerging with a stone to increase his breath-holding capacity. His persistence pays off, as he ultimately succeeds in swimming through the tunnel, marking a significant rite of passage for him.

Jerry is attracted to the rocky bay because it represents a challenge and an opportunity for independence from his mother. The bay symbolizes his desire to transition from childhood to young adulthood. By attempting to swim through an underwater tunnel like the older boys, Jerry sees a chance to prove his maturity and capability, marking his first step towards growing independence and self-discovery.

Jerry's terrible nosebleed two days before leaving the beach makes him decide to wait a year before trying to swim through the underwater tunnel. However, he almost immediately changes his mind and manages to successfully swim through the tunnel.

Jerry's determination to swim through the tunnel is exemplified by his resolve to practice breath control relentlessly, believing "the whole of his life, all that he would become, depended upon it." His determination culminates in his defiant promise to himself: "On the day before they left, he would do it. He would do it if it killed him." This quote underscores his unwavering commitment to achieving his goal despite the risks involved.

Jerry feels humiliated in front of the older boys when they ignore him after realizing he is a foreigner. In a panic to gain their attention, he yells in English, "Look at me! Look!" and splashes around foolishly in the water. This childish act only brings scorn from the boys, making Jerry acutely aware of his immaturity. This incident motivates him to practice diving until he can match their feat of swimming through the tunnel.

Jerry's ordeal was not an act of craziness but a risky and foolish attempt driven by a deep need for independence and self-respect. Although he risked his life and could have caused his mother great grief, his successful swim through the tunnel marked a critical moment of growth. He emerged with newfound self-acceptance and no longer required the approval of others, showcasing his transition from childhood to maturity.

Jerry cries due to a mix of fear, embarrassment, frustration, and humiliation after failing to match the diving skills of older boys. While attempting to earn their acceptance by diving with them, he becomes fearful when he cannot hold his breath as long as they can. His attempts to regain their attention by clowning around only lead to further embarrassment as they ignore him and leave, prompting Jerry to cry openly in frustration.

Jerry gains acceptance from the native boys by demonstrating his swimming and diving skills. Initially, they ignore him due to the language barrier, but when he dives from the rocks, they watch and make room for him, signaling acceptance. His ability to dive well impresses the boys, making Jerry feel proud and included among them. This act of diving is crucial in bridging the gap between him and the native boys, earning their respect and acceptance.

Jerry insists to his mother that he needs a pair of goggles after spending a day on the beach because he has been unable to find the underwater gap that the other boys had been swimming through. This is due, at least in part, to the salt water stinging his eyes. His hope, therefore, is that a pair of goggles will help him overcome this problem.

Jerry does not tell his mother because he is content to know that he has grown up and that she cannot take the credit. If Jerry were with friends or his son years later, he might begin to describe his experience when he was eleven years old as his departure from boyhood. This description can be in the form of a monologue. Here are some ideas to include in this monologue: When he arrives with his mother on holiday at the beaches, Jerry tags along behind her. Still, he yearns to go to a wilder-looking beach where older boys dive and swim. Once there, he feels childish because he cannot dive through a long rock as they do.