Journal for Station Eleven (Week 13)

Part One: 

Quote #1: "The first unspeakable years when everyone was traveling before every one caught on that there was no place they could walk to where life continued as it had before " (Mandel 37)

This quote is significant because it shows that everything has changed since the pandemic. It also shows that people tried to have life continue normally. It makes me curious about how the pandemic caused the world to basically destroy civilization as we know it. Kirsten refers to the years after the pandemic as unspeakable insinuating that they were unbearably tragic. 

Quote #2: "What was lost in the collapse: almost everything, almost everyone, but there is still such beauty." (Mandel 57)

Part Two: 

This quote is significant because it tells us how much was lost in the collapse. It also relates back to a quote form last week referring to a before and after. There was life before the collapse and now there is life after. This quote also shows that despite the collapse positivity and determination remain. 

1. I think that the quote "survival is insufficient" represents the symphony because they are not focused on just surviving, they are focused on living. The member of the symphony were able to find passion and joy through performing giving their life a purpose. A parallel I saw was that both of the sections started with a play. The beginning section of life before and after both started with a play setting. In shake pears play technology did not exist similar to how it doesn't during the "after period" that the symphony is performing it in. 

2. The biggest change for Kirsten is that she is much older. Kirsten can't seem to remember life before the collapse, insinuating that something dramatic happened to her. Kirsten was a shy and timid little girl at the beginning of the book and she now voices her opinion and has gained confidence. Kirsten still has a love for performing and now uses performing as a way to help her cope with her situation. 

3. The prophet is a very stereotypical cult leader. He seems to be very strict and exiles anyone who doesn't support him and his goals. He comes across as very threatening and seems almost illogical.