Analysis Of Favel Parrett's 'Past The Shallows'

Favel Parrett’s Past the Shallows explores the impacts of assuming excessive responsibility in youth as well as the impacts of a hostile and isolated environment. The text is used to demonstrate how memories can be drawn upon in times of struggle in order to provide a sense of comfort and strength.

Due to the given circumstances, Miles has been entrusted with a large number of responsibilities that exceed the capacity of his thirteen year old self. “As long as it kept pumping, as long as he sorted in time, as long as he steered the boat carefully, everything would be okay.” demonstrates the fragility of his responsibility and the ability for it to all go wrong through the sense of only needing to achieve the bare minimum of what is expected …show more content…
The impact of Miles’ responsibilities on the boat has a physical impact on his wellbeing. After his first day out Harry notices how “Miles was holding his hands strangely [and] that they were red and swollen.”. Although Harry does not comment on the other signs of Miles’ exhaustion the reader can see that he is already feeling the impact through the action of “lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling” and his comment of “just [feeling] tired” which shows his lack of motivation and loss of energy. Miles ignores the effect of the boat work when Harry mentions it. When asked if he is sick, Miles dismisses the questions and tells Harry ‘Shut your eyes for a sec. I’ve gotta turn the light on” which shows how Miles is able to ignore looking after himself by looking after Harry. Harry is able to see that “Miles coughing again from somewhere deep, and [having] black bags under his eyes” is caused by the work on the boat, he shows his concern and understanding by asking “Are you sick? Maybe you can stay home?”, again Miles ignores his concern and tells Harry to “go back to sleep”. …show more content…
The words “before he knew what he was doing” indicates the unconditionality of his responsibility over Harry and the fact that he put himself into the dangerous situation with the consequence of being injured demonstrates the extent in which Miles will go to in order to protect Harry. However, the excessive responsibility over Harry has an impact on Miles, especially after his death. Miles experiences a complete lack of control when he is submerged in the “thick and heavy” water but he still fights against it in order to keep Harry alive. “All [Miles] could do was be a buffer between Harry and the wall” in order to keep Harry safe from the rocks. Miles is still fighting for Harry despite his body being “limp [and] lifeless in his arms”, indicating that Miles believes it is his full responsibility to get Harry to safety regardless of the danger he is putting himself in as well as the assumption that Harry does not have a favourable chance of making it out alive through the use of the words “limp” and “lifeless”. Miles’ overwhelming sense of responsibility over Harry damages him in a psychological way through the guilt he feels associated with his death. “He should have checked. He should have made sure” demonstrates how Miles blames himself for Harry’s condition