Past The Shallow Writing Flashcards
First body paragraph
The thematic exploration of brotherhood, intertwined with the coming-of-age journey in Past the Shallows, is profoundly conveyed through Miles’ noble selflessness and deep compassion for his younger brother Harry. Despite being a young teenager himself, Miles takes on the role of a caretaker for his younger brother, Harry, in a household plagued by indifference and assault.
This nobility is also poignantly embellished when Harry is coerced into drinking bourbon by Jeff, one of their father’s colleagues. In a moment of desperation, Miles intervenes, yelling out “Let him go. Leave him alone!”. This exclamation signifies Miles’ courage in standing up to Jeff, positioning himself as a guardian in an environment where Harry’s innocence is constantly under threat.
While Mr. Curren’s actions embody the darker facet of humanity, the compassion between Miles and Harry offers a powerful counterpoint. This duality drives the narrative, the plot and emphasises the resilience of human spirit.
The climax of the novel highlights Miles’ heroism as he risks his life to rescue Harry, whom their father mercilessly throws into the turbulent ocean without remorse. Despite the overwhelming danger, Miles’ courageous actions reveal the depth of his love and unwavering commitment to protecting his brother. Additionally, Miles comes off as a contradictory character with his callous father. When Harry’s life was in jeopardy, Miles did everything he could to keep his brother alive by battling the muscular waves; ironically, the tremendous waves carried Harry away. In the moment where Miles initiates his emotional monologue, when he was trying to warm up, he would have heard his mother wonder, “Where’s Harry? Where’s my baby?”, when Miles was awakened by the icy splash of water his brother had already gone . This moment, laden with tension and emotional weight, underscores the nobility of Miles’ character, contrasting sharply with the brutality of their father’s actions.
