On the beach - Nevil Shute

A detailed Summary of On the beach - Nevil Shute

Nevil Shute is a very interesting author as he can take an extremely serious situation and transform it into one that seems less significant. In his book, "On the Beach", he lures us into the story with his unique and informative ways which keep us interested. Nevil Shute criticizes society's proliferation of nuclear weapons, in light of the potential innocent victims, the potential destruction of society and inevitable painful end of human kind.

The innocent victims in this novel are faced with an extreme situation from which they know nothing about what can be done to save them. They simply wait for the radiation to be blown down towards them; consequently, creating a great deal of panic. The author helps us to realize how significant our lives can be, and how quickly they can be taken away from us in such crucial events as this. "As a piece writing it is terrific. As a world warning it is more terrifying than anything put into print." (Brig. General S.L.A. Marshall) This proves that Nevil Shute is quite able to terrify you throughout extreme events depicted in his writing. In his novel, several characters would "rather die of drinking port than of this cholera thing." (Shute pg.88) The characters are petrified of this s

This explains why it was far too lethal to be habitable.

At the end of the novel, a great deal of the population is now realizing that death has drawn near. This inevitable end will create extreme panic but will also make planet earth an environment which no living creature is able to live for many centuries to come. Several of the citizens do not begin to worry until they are sure it is coming. When they heard it on "the radio that morning announced for the first time the incidence of radiation sickness in the city", (Shute pg. 249) they now realized that their lives are going to end. The thoughts that went through their minds must have been frightening knowing they were not going to live for much longer. Nevil Shute unrolls a great amount of action at the end of the book with his conclusion of sudden death. He surprises us with a terrible ending that keeps us intrigued until the last pages of the book. In another way, the entire book is based on the inevitable end, which is bound to occur, so when arriving there, it is very exciting. "It details beautifully their various reactions to their inevitable death-from denial, escapism and religion fervour, to acceptance and the new 'madness' that that brings." (Julia Davis) She explains that the author is exceptional at detailing their relentless deaths by bringing out the emotions and madness of his characters with the situation they are faced with.

"...The Northern Hemisphere would co

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Approximate Word count = 974
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English