Final Blog Reading Journal On Station Eleven

 Quote 1: “does it still make sense to teach kids about the way things were”(Mandel 269)? 

I liked this quote because it showed the different opinions people had on the matter of the past life and if it was good enough to talk about or if it wasn’t worth bringing up the past. I understood why Jeevan was hesitant because it was a very upsetting topic that isn’t easy to remember for many and it’s especially hard on Jeevan since he witnessed one of the first deaths of the flu. But I also think it’s important because the next generation should know what reality they could live in and that the possibilities are endless. 

Quote 2: “but I hope you’ll agree this was worth the climb”(Mandel 311). 

This quote stuck to me because in a few moments Kirsten was going to be overfilled with hope and joy as she sees the electricity fill the town. It was kind of funny because it made me think it was definitely worth it and I know Kirsten definitely thought it was worth it too so in the end it showed hope for the future.

1. In Section Seven (42-47), we meet up again with Clark and there's a chapter with Jeevan as well. Discuss the progression of the characters since we've seen them last. In this section, how do people find ways to survive both physically and mentally? 

The two characters have grown immensely both physically and mentally. When we meet up with Clark again we learn that he decided to create a museum of all the stuff that used to be so valuable to the people of society in the sky miles lounge in concourse C of the Severn City Airport. Clark wanted to be able to show off the great technologies of the past that are now insignificant but just the memory alone can heal one’s soul knowing that these creations did exist at one point. We also meet up with Jeevan in Year 15 after the collapse and learn that he pursued his dream career and persevered through his past and became a doctor of his settlement. We also learn that 

Jeevan doesn’t know whether or not he should tell the children about the past and what it looked like or not. If it were me I would tell them but I would tell it to them like a story so they could either think it was real or some could think it was fake. Both Clark and Jeevan found ways to survive by finding things that made them happy or made them feel useful. 

2. Why is the Museum of Civilization important to the residents of the airport?  What does it provide them with? If you were building your own "Museum of Civilization" about this current moment, what would you include?

The museum is so important because it holds so much memory of what the past was like and how developed society was at one point in life. Although many don’t remember what life was like they can still imagine a world with these technologies and listen to the stories to form ideas and it gives them the hope they need for the future. If I were to build my own museum I would have my hockey stick, an air fryer and my water bottle. I would include my stick because it has been through so much for so many years of playing and it still hasn’t broken so it might be Magic. And then I added an air fryer because that literally is magical because I use it to cook every single meal of the day and it is always perfect, it’s crazy. And lastly my water bottle because I have had it for so long and if may be a bit worn down from dropping it but it has been there for me through so much so it’s basically my support water bottle.

3. Once members of the Symphony begin to go missing, the group embarks on a coordinated rescue mission, arguably endangering everyone in the group for the sake of the missing.  Given the hostile and violent realities of the world in the novel, is this decision wise?  Why? Who or what would be worth you endangering yourself for?  Who or what would be worth endangering your family for? Endangering your school?  Your entire city?  Your country? Where do you draw this line?

I think it is both good and bad because after seeing how much Kirsten cares and loves the Symphony I can imagine everyone else feels similarly towards it so it is good they are going on the rescue mission, ot shows they all care deeply but at the same time do they really need to risk everyone’s lives just to maybe rescue others? They don’t know for sure if they will make it back alive. But now that I think about it, if a member from my family went missing the rest of us would definitely risk our lives to find them because without them we aren’t whole and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself without all of them, so maybe I do see why they decided to go on the mission.

4. In section Eight, Kirsten and other members of the Symphony face death. What happens? In the midst of all the violence that ensues, where do the characters (and Kirsten in particular) find hope?

The first two Dieter and Sayid face their deaths after being captured by the Prophet who were going to use them to trade for the Eleanor who he was going to marry before they took her but unfortunately Dieter was killed and ambushed by some chemical weapon and Sayid disappeared after talking with the young boy. Before Kirsten dies Clark showed her the telescope that showed the lights of a town. Because of this Kirsten found hope in that civilization could one day rise again after seeing the electricity.