The novel Station Eleven, written by Emily St. John Mandel is a deeply reflective story that revolves around the deceased character of Arthur Leander, both by illustrating how he behaved before he died, and by clarifying his lasting influence on those close to him after his death during the world ending apocalypse. In this context, the novel can be interpreted as a thoughtful character study, demonstrating how human society has reverted back to their primal roots due to the damage caused by the “end of the world”. The particular relationship between a person and their society has also shifted as a result of this catastrophe, and is central to the novel as well. However, one of the most important themes of the novel, revolves around class discrepancies, …show more content…
The most obvious class gap in the story is evidenced the town of St. Deborah, and its domineering and cultist leader. In chapter 2, when the Symphony arrives to this small town, they struggle to gain any information about some of their old members, Charlie and her husband. The town’s answers are frightened, and unhelpful, with many townspeople telling the Symphony to leave while they still can, such as one old woman, “Stop asking questions and tell your people to leave here as quickly as possible.” (51). The members of the Symphony are shocked and upset, but it is only after they present their play to the town do they truly realize the circumstances of the situation that this town is in. St. Deborah in the time the Symphony has been gone, has been taken under the leadership of The Prophet, a deeply religious man, who claims that the virus that wiped out nearly the entire human race, was simply a cleansing of the earth. His influence over the people of the town is illustrated during his religious and self-empowering rant, “The audience applauded again, on cue, but quieter now” (59), how the village seemed almost powerless to anything the Prophet did or said. The oppression that these people were under, manifested themselves in one of the boys of the village, when he almost begs the Symphony, “Will you take me with you?” (64). Additionally, The Prophet clearly sees himself as superior to most travelers and villagers, as evidenced when he very calmly asks for one of the members of The Symphony, Alexandra, to stay as a wife for him. “He glanced over his shoulder, at Alexandra collecting flowers from the stage, and spoke into the conductor’s ear [...] “He said he was looking for another bride”” (62, 65). The story of the town of St. Deborah is evidence of how a society with distinct classes can still exist even after the apocalypse. The phenomenon of the town is understandable, as many