Remnants of the Old World: Making Survival Meaningful in 'Station Eleven' Alex Mccallion 12th Grade

Emily St. John Mandel explores two different interpretations of humanity in the post-apocalyptic novel ‘Station Eleven.’ The author examines how humanity is capable of both goodness and evil in the face of catastrophe. Survivors often wonder why they survived and others did not. For them, survival is not enough to truly be alive, and there is a great desire to search for reason and meaning to their survival. The Travelling Symphony and other characters like Miranda use the beauty of art and performing to create meaning in their lives, whereas others, such as the Prophet and his cult, turn to faith and religion as a way of understanding their survival. Not only does religion aid them in giving meaning to their survival, but also to form a dangerous community to support his regime. The founders of the Museum of Civilisation use the preservation of memory and the pre-collapse world to educate others and build a community to create a sense of purpose in their lives. Mandel seeks to represent the best and the worst elements of the old world and how in a society without law and order these aspects of humanity live on.

Miranda, as well as the characters in the Travelling Symphony, use art as both a form of escape and pleasure in their...