Station 11 Research Paper

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Station Eleven as a Dystopian Within the pages of Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel states, “First we only want to be seen, but once we’re seen, that’s not enough anymore. After that, we want to be remembered” (187). Therein lies the truth of Station Eleven. This novel tells the tale of the Symphony, one of the final bastions of pre-apocalyptic culture in Mandel’s post-apocalyptic wasteland, as its members desperately try to preserve culture through Shakespearean plays and orchestral recitals. This can be determined through its society’s creation, protagonist, theme, and similarities to other dystopian works. It is through this that one can conclude that Station Eleven is a dystopian novel. Creation of Dystopian Society Station Eleven’s…show more content…
This man, Tyler, later stalks the Symphony across the wastelands. While his motivation is first unknown, it is finally discovered that he is picking the group off one by one to reclaim his twelve year old runaway bride (Mandel 285-6). Later, it is discovered that the prophet was the son of Arthur, the patient zero; he spent the first two years after the virus quarantined in an airport with his mother before leaving to join the religious sect he now leads. Tyler’s mother, Elizabeth, indoctrinated him to a life of spirituality; as such, he spent his childhood reading the Book of Revelations to an airplane full of dead travelers (Mandel 259-61). This places him in direct conflict with Kristen, who wants nothing more than to stay…show more content…
As mentioned earlier, the protagonist of the work constantly changes; this makes for a unique work and surprisingly-easy-to-follow style. These characters’ pathways all intertwine; the final connection is made when Kirsten discovers that the prophet was in possession of the titular work (Mandel 304). Interspersed is a sense of longing for the past, and for things to be the way they were before the apocalypse; the scene where Kirsten and a companion come across an untouched house with its inhabitants dead in bed was one of the most touching scenes in this way. Mandel does an excellent job of making her characters seem real. Even Arthur’s ex-wife Miranda changes; her mantra of “I repent nothing” morphs from a coping device (89) to a motto (206). Therefore, I would definitely recommend Station Eleven to those who haven’t read

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