"The Waterfall" immerses readers in the profound depths of Jane Gray's experience as she navigates the complexity of motherhood and identity. As she recounts the birth of her second child, Jane grapples with the dualities of her life, seeking solace and understanding through her introspective narrative. It is through her writing that Jane ultimately finds cohesion and avoids being overwhelmed by the tumultuous events surrounding her.

A Dual Narrative

Jane's story unfolds through a captivating interplay of voices, transitioning between third-person narration of events and first-person reflections on her emotions. This dual perspective creates a dialogue within herself, attempting to reconcile the disparate elements that define her existence. For instance, Jane's lack of affection for her newborn is tinged with regret: "I did not want to include one man’s child in the story of my passion for another man. I felt compromised, I felt condemned." Her internal debate remains unresolved until the narrative draws to a close, where her poetry offers a lifeline, rescuing her from the metaphorical drowning she fears.

Family Ties and Independence

Jane's marriage to a musician adds another layer of complexity to her life. With the dissolution of their relationship, she chooses solitude for the birth of her child, aided only by a visiting midwife. The novel opens with this marital rift and the entrance of Jane’s cousin, Lucy Otford, who represents an active contrast to Jane. Lucy’s vibrant life, replete with children and a fulfilling career, highlights the connections Jane struggles to form. Lucy’s organized intervention underscores Jane’s disconnection, and when Lucy departs, her husband, James, steps in, seamlessly becoming part of Jane’s existence. His regular visits evolve into an unspoken intimacy, culminating naturally into a physical relationship.

Severed Roots and New Beginnings

In distancing herself from her traditional upbringing, Jane has largely cut ties with her past, except for sporadic visits from her mother, who takes her elder child, Laurie, away intermittently. She justifies her husband Malcolm's absence during the birth by citing his concert tour commitments. Lucy is the sole lingering connection to her history, yet even this bond lacks depth. Jane, her children, and James carve out a semblance of a new family, embarking on trips that James’s car business facilitates, providing rare excursions from their otherwise insular world.

Life's Unpredictable Turns

A sense of foreboding accompanies James’s reckless driving, overshadowing the stability of their new life. Jane's fear of death is ever-present, ironically culminating in an accident caused by road work during a cautious drive to visit James’s uncle in Norway. This incident necessitates renewed contact with Lucy and James’s mother, infringing upon the couple’s private world. Lucy’s response is one of understanding, recognizing the fragile nature of familial bonds, an understanding that draws her closer to Jane as they wait for James’s recovery in a nearby hotel.

Recovery and Reconciliation

After James’s recuperation, he and Jane resume their relationship, albeit with less intensity. Malcolm’s return, now a famous guitarist, prompts a brief attempt at reconciliation, which Jane dismisses. She covertly resumes her writing, gaining a newfound sense of agency as she organizes her once cluttered Victorian home and tends to a neglected plant, symbolic of her internal rejuvenation. This love affair, reignited by the accident, reconnects Jane with a sense of continuity and integration she had lost or never fully realized.

A Journey to Connection

The narrative concludes with Jane and James embarking on a journey to Goredale Scar, a site of natural beauty and grandeur. The experience proves exhausting yet enlightening, with Jane reflecting on the permanence of the Scar compared to their transient lives. Back at their hotel, a mishap with talcum powder in whiskey serves as a mundane yet poignant reminder of life's imperfections. Through this journey, Jane achieves a sense of coherence and command over her life; she has braved the gorge and emerged undrowned by the overwhelming forces represented by the waterfall.