Nevertheless, I want to address the overall escape theme that is heavily prominent throughout the book. However, I feel as though I have a stronger understanding of “escapism” in Joe’s eyes as I continued on in the book. I believe that since the death of his brother, Joe can no longer bare the guilt of being able to escape. I believe that Joe’s guilt started from the first part of the book where he was able to escape Prague; but by doing so, he developed an immense amount of guilt of leaving his family. This is clear when Joe had made the rash decision to join the R.A.F once he found out his father had passed away. Now this is occurring again, but only with Joe’s brother – Thomas. Now, Joe has made the decision to enlist in the Navy. Though
