... that a future is possible, Shute manipulates versions of reality to illustrate the character's denial. 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. To respond to Moira's comment, Dwight proposes that "maybe it is, or maybe it ... novels illustrate despondence and frustration, but at least one of the character in McCarthy's novel manages to stay alive even at the very end. Both On the Beach and The Road depict the characters' rea...

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