PRINT VERS NOAH N ANALYTICAL ESSAY

 

Year 11 English Analytical Essay Task:

How does Brin build a (purposeful) portrayal of Krantz through characterisation?

Prescribed text: The Postman, David Brin, 1985                    Response by: Noah Nishihara E05

David Brin, in his3-partpost-apocalyptic novel The Postman, explores citizenship, courage, and responsibility.Brin portraysa gradually evolving protagonist Gordon Krantz to emphasise the important and profound values connecting humanity and ensuring its survival. Following an accidental discovery of a postman’s paraphernalia, Krantzis reluctantly heroic but is finally compelled to lead the weakened against adversity. Brin uses a range of strategies including actions, internalisation, symbolism, and the novel ending to portray his key character.

Brin presents Krantz’s actions in interactions involving other charactersofwhich his integrity and compassion develops for those who treat him for ‘what he was and could become’. This acts as the foundation ofportraying a heroic figure. An example is Mrs Thompson farewelling him from Pine View with the words ‘You’ve served as a…catalyst…’which supports an affirmative outlook on Krantz. He is unwittingly uniting Oregon, but his attitude of satisfying himself changes to one of contribution to the future owing to the reaction of others and himself. When a poem depicting a postman is recited, Krantz chokes ‘on a sudden, wayward swallow’ with astonishment, suggesting that he places importance upon the poem. Later, Abby suggests, ‘Someone…will write to us, if we send them a letter.’ He gradually adopts the postman’s persona in the course of interactions. Thus Brin’s descriptions of Krantz’s actions and reactions reveal that Krantz acts due to other people’s kindness. He is repaying them by adopting a lead role. In this way, Brin manipulatesKrantz’s action to gain the reader’s agreement in the concept of values and hope shared and circulated by all but upheld and united through a single heroic character.

Another way in which Brin conveys Krantz is through italicised phrases to represent Krantz’sinternalisation and surfacing values. For readers, this technique is not only the most direct form of contact to Krantz but it also expresseshis own attitudes. While inthe captivityof Macklin, Krantz imagines a ‘Restored World’ (p.350) for which ‘Without them, I would have curled up and died’ (p. 351).When compared with Krantz’s thought upon entering Oakridge: ‘…they want to believe…I only want what belongs to me…Simpletons’, Krantz’s opinion of hope is positive. As the suspenseful journey progresses, Krantz becomes aware of his values by reflecting upon his experiences:‘Why, why is nobody anywhere taking responsibility for putting things right again? I’d help. I’d dedicate my life to such a leader’ (p.90). Preceding this, his only aim was pure survival.Brin revealsKrantz’sconscience, true desires, and values through the conscious workings of his brain.

Brin’s use of symbolic elements given by objects or hopes places emphasis upon the protagonist. Symbols and its associated ideas are examined from different perspectives based on the experiences of characters.While there are two or more recurring symbols within the novel, the protagonist stands to be the most effective. The postman is a symbol of life devoted to connecting people, determination even in the worst of circumstances, and trust built within people’s nostalgic memories of letters. In contrast to the Holnists, mayors, and scientists, power is unimportant to Krantz. Brin acknowledges the roles played by various characters: ‘Krantz often wondered if the right symbol might do the trick-the right idea’ (p.49) andKrantzalso mentions a ‘sustenance needed to overcome the inertia of dark age’.Heimagines the symbols which are to be eventually realised on his own. Combined with the title ‘The Postman’, his occupation title plays on connotations, namely that he is ‘Post-Mankind’. By showing contrasting symbols with characters, Brin stresses the uniqueness of Krantz. Brin’s selection of symbols aim to ‘bind the land together’ (p.387) through the underlying concept of hope but only the protagonist prevails out of them all.

Furthermore, Brin adds to this portrayal with the novel ending. In it, Krantz becomes a true leader but chooses to continue journeying holding greater hopes. It is revealed during his preparation for departure that ‘everything would perpetually remind him of the harm…accomplished in doing good’ (p.386). This obscure outcome develops after shared hope had led to victory. His dire situation shapes his experiences and he resolves to continue an inner journey to accept and learn. Hope is then symbolised by the bear symbol of the unfortunate soldier from California that Krantz seeks to uncover the mystery of. In the novel ending, Brin shows that hope is always necessary for a true leader to survive.

Ultimately, it is hope that is valued. Brin illustrates by carefully crafting his protagonist Krantz that shared optimism and hope in our everyday lives’ journeys are the driving forces behind all other occurrences. Without determination derived from shared hope, Krantz would not survive.

Word Count: 740

Tuesday, 21 March 2017 –Noah Nishihara