In Shute's novel, the characters can not accept that they will ultimately die from radiation sickness. ... At the end of chapter one, Dwight Towers and Moira Davidson share the information that their situation is "like [they are] waiting to be hung" (40), which means the characters are well aware of their fate. ... During the darkest hours of their travel, the father and the son share a conversation in which the boy asks "We wouldn't ever eat anybody, would we? Even if we were starving?... Moira strives to consume less alcohol, attend secretarial classes and participat...

• Word Count: 1772
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate