Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven Analysis

Arthur Leander would never know how his life would affect the lives of his son, Tyler, in Israel and Kirsten, a child actress. Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven intricately details the lives of Kirsten Raymonde and Tyler Leander by alternating between the world before and after the collapse of modern civilization. In doing so, Mandel emphasizes the importance of the past on the present by juxtaposing Kirsten’s and Tyler’s experiences with Arthur and its effect on their value for the past. Kirsten who is enamoured by the past contrasts with Tyler who despises the memories of the past as it prevents Tyler’s plans to advance his cult. Their enmity is a result of their varying levels of importance they place on the past. Kirsten and Tyler’s
Tyler is stranded with his illogical mother at the Severn City Airport and in a time of crisis, Elizabeth literally interprets the Bible for answers. Tyler begins to mimic Elizabeth as a result of Elizabeth being his sole parental figure. Clark notices Tyler reciting passages from the Bible to the dead on the Air Gradia Jet and states that the flu happened for a reason. Clark, filled with concern, approaches Elizabeth, who disregards Clark and restates Tyler’s outlook, “ It did happen for a reason” (260). This reasoning leads Tyler to believe he is the light and is saved; a notion Tyler carries into his cult where he states “we were saved because we are the light ”(60). Tyler’s lack of a proper parental figure shapes him into a psychotic cult leader, while the Travelling Symphony resemblance to a family provides Kirsten with a sense of sanity. In Kirsten’s first few years on the road, she witnesses the death of her own brother which would drive an individual to insanity given her circumstances. Her induction into the Travelling Symphony, however, results in her finding a second family. Kirsten’s passion for art emerges once again through their recreations of Shakespeare. Similar to Dieter, Kirsten sympathizes with the statement that Shakespeare “represents the best of the world” (38). In fact, Kirsten endures the tribulations of the troupe because of Shakespeare. The Travelling Symphony’s affiliation with the performing arts, especially Shakespeare, is similar to Arthur’s association with the King Lear production. The troupe takes on Arthur’s role as the supporter allowing Kirsten to accomplish her goals as an actor. Kirsten and Tyler’s contrast in environments develops their lives from childhood to