A Step Into The Unknown :: Literary Analysis, Dark Star

In his novel, Dark Star, Alan Furst creates an atmosphere that supports the depressed and run away down position surrounding Europe before the onset of demesne War II. He is satisfactory to capture our attention by instanter creating anxiety in the depressed and broken down country of Belgium. Furst is able to draw us into the mind of Andre Szara as he enters Ostend, Belgium, describing the atmosphere as unpleasant and anxiety-driven. He presents this atmosphere through the old and rusted freighter, Nicaea, the setting in Ostend, and the appellations that Szara must complete while staying in Ostend. The thirty year old tugboat, Nicaea, represents an unforeseen road and ultimately places uncertainty in the eyeball of Andre Szara. In the beginning, the atmosphere is immediately set with a regretful and timorous outlook because of the depiction of the tramp freighter (Furst 3) that moves through the water with a distinctive roar of the engine, over powering the sound o f clashing waves. The history of the Nicaea identifies the elements utilise by Furst to display atmosphere. Its deep description indicates it has spent acrid summers and drizzling winters (3) over the years to be ruined by salt and rust. Old age has the ship creaking and groaning sorrowfully (4). The unhealthy environment creates an inapplicable atmosphere that makes use of uncertainty as to whether the ship can reserve on. Salame 2The weather plays a major role in do the atmosphere in Ostend. The weather can be used efficaciously when presenting a certain atmosphere because it can dictate the mood. While change of location on the North Sea, Szara and Khelidze were accompanied by rain (3) and darkness (3), unmindful(predicate) of what lies ahead. With darkness, comes the idea of fear because its leading to the unexpected. The Nicaea has also been at sea for xix days through an eternity of icy, seawater showers (5). The weather foreshadows a dark future and maintains the un certainty of what lies ahead. Equally important, Andre Szara is given an assignment but does non know why, further adding to the suspense and obliviousness for any consequences. Szaras assignment is to find out where his fellow passenger on the tugboat, Grigory Khelidze, is staying in Ostend. Szara has no idea why he must find out where this composition is staying, thus creating a sense of bewilderment. It is as if Szara has been set out on to a winding and unforgiving path that leaves no indication or signs as to where it will lead him.