Indledning
Sometimes things do not turn out the way we expect them to. It can be as simple as a vacation taking a turn and something unexpected suddenly happens.
It is rare that someone is able to predict such a thing. This also happens to be the case in Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “The Last Cruise”, where the passengers are left for dead on an Island far away by their own children.
This analytical essay focuses on how attitudes to the elderly are expressed in the text and an analysis of style of writing in lines 61-80.
Optimer dit sprog - Læs vores guide og scor topkarakter
Uddrag
On page 2 ll. 54-56 it says: “You have expensive cameras, even in some cases video equipment, for recording this South Seas adventure...”. This tells the reader that the passengers do not have a clue about where they are actually going.
They have been tricked into believing that they will see wild animals, flowers and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The captain has also called it ‘a small but remarkably beautiful island’, which is not the case.
The island is called the Island of Tranquility or the Island of Repose which gives the hint that it is a quiet place with nothing much to do. A description of the island is seen on page 4 ll. 106-107:
“Ladies and gentlemen, these are lovely azure waters – exactly as the brochures promised! – but full of sharks, so take care.”. Hereafter the captain continues to tell the passengers about how other people’s bones could be discovered on the island.
The attitudes towards the elderly in the short story are not all positive. They are told how much they have spoiled their children in the past, and that the children are now relying on them because of their wealth and luxurious lifestyle.
Skriv et svar