english std human experience essay

[ellie.christen]

Through the telling and receiving of stories, we become more aware of ourselves and our shared human experiences. 


Favel Parrett engages her audience in her novel ‘Past the Shallows’ to enhance their eawareness on both individual and collective human experiences. She addresses the power of relationships and their role in either destruction or growth, loss experienced through death and freedom.


Favel Parrett investigates the collective human experience of the power of relationships in her novel ‘Past the Shallows’, she ignites the idea that constructive relationships do not rely on blood ties. Harry and his brother Miles are in a relationship with their father which is one of destruction. A puppy leads Harry to George, the introduction of George into Harry and Miles’s life provides them a place of protection. Parrett explores the meaning of family, which is not just inclusive for blood relationships. She displays the power of relationships and their role in either destruction or growth. Parrett illustrates the boys’ father as a minatory and unpredictable man, often comparing him to the ocean. This is a drastic contrast to what is expected of a father, being a protective figure not someone who the boys’ need to be protected from. Parrett challenges her reader’s assumptions as she creates a fatherly figure for Harry and Miles. George is described to be unnerving in appearance as his face has been mutilated, “… he didn’t want to see him again. His face was squashed in and he looked like a monster.”  A simile is used to compare George to a monster, this explores the extent he was feared by the neighbourhood; it also provides a paradox as the boy’s father is the one who should be feared. Negative connotation of the word ‘monster’ plants fear within Parrett’s readers as they expect this man to be a threat - only to watch the relationship with the boys’ flourish as he becomes their protector and provider. Meanwhile their father is the one they need guarding from, “Harry squeezed his eyes shut like he was expecting to be hit, but Dad didn’t move.” Parrett uses imagery of Harry squeezing his innocent eyes has he anticipates his father’s brutal punishment. This is evidence of the fear Harry faced on a day to day basics and despite George’s disturbing appearance his treatment towards the Harry and Miles is pure. The father’s actions are metaphorical to the ocean. As he is unpredictable and deadly to the wellbeing of his sons, especially Harry, “Miles saw the wave; he saw Dad push Harry.” Parrett uses a metaphor of the ocean with the word ‘wave’, she then elaborates on this explaining that the ‘wave’ was Dad pushing Harry. This highlights that like the ocean Harry fears so much, his father is just like it in his actions. This is an inconstancy in the way a father treats his child as his motivation is to harm not protect. Therefore, her exploration of the power of relationships educates her audience that family is not restricted to blood bonds.


The individual human experience of loss can occur at the death of someone as the relationship with that individual is specific between the two people. The death of Harry is extremely heartbreaking to his older brother Miles. Miles and Harry had a unique relationship as Miles only a few years older, stepped in as Harry’s protector from their father’s cruelty. The loss Miles experiences is tailored to the relationship he had with Harry, “He leant his head down against his brother’s shoulder. He let himself cry.” A disheartening tone is used; for him to surrender to his emotions signifies he has failed to save his brother. the audience had been familiarised with Miles’s role as a protector and can also feel the loss Miles experienced. When Miles and Harry lost their mother, they were deprived of being abundantly loved and cared for. The closest person they had to a mother was Aunty Jean whom was unpleasant and cold, “Mum never used to cut Harry’s hair short. She told him that his curls were lucky and should be left alone.” High modality of the word never indicates the grounds their mother operated on, however Aunty Jean does not work the same way, instead of embracing her nephew’s unique features like a mother, she gets rid of them. This shows how the connection between Harry and his Aunt is one of obligation. Therefore, the human experience of loss can be individual as it’s exclusive to the relationship between individuals.


Freedom and lack of freedom is both collectively and individually experienced by Harry, Miles and Joe throughout the novel as the result of their father. Harry was tragically able to finally about to escape his father’s cruelty by the end of the novel through death, “…Harry was free to stay here now. Free to run along this beach until the end of time.” Repetition of the word ‘free’ emphasises Harry’s liberation by death. High modality of ‘until the end of time’, also indicates Harry’s eternal freedom which has been accomplished. Joe wills his father to be dead to achieve vengeance for his brother’s death and freedom from future torment, “I hope he’s dead”. Parrett uses a blunt tone, this indicates that Joe does not view his father as a lovable parent, yet as a heartless creature whom should be deprived of the pleasure of living. Due to the lack of parental support Miles and Harry received, Miles had to step into the role of a father for Harry. He was deprived of his own freedom as a child to secure his and Harry’s survival, “… Miles wanted to tell Joe to shut up. He didn’t have to live with Dad and work on the boat. He didn’t have to look after Harry.” Negative connotation of the word ‘shut up’, indicates that Miles is reaching the limits to what he can do for him and his youngest brother, it also signifies the neglect he feels from Joe as he has been abandoned to fend for himself. Repetition of “He didn’t have to”, sheds a light on Miles’s responsibilities and lacking liberty as his responsibilities have tied him up. Therefore, it is evident the brothers have experienced freedom by being liberated from their father’s captivity.


In conclusion it is evident Favel Parrett has given her audience and insight to various human experiences, in her novel ‘Past the Shallows’, which expands their awareness in their selves and their shared experiences. She has embarked on the power of relationships and their role in either destruction or growth, loss experienced through death and freedom.