Lester And The Death Train

Not only does the setting reveal that the inevitable is inescapable, but characters are another part of the story that helps reveal the theme. As the story goes, Lester and the characters tell gruesome facts about the 11:59, such as when someone hears the whistle of the 11:59 they have twenty four hours to live. Although they all know the facts are real, the reader can tell by the character’s words that some of them have trouble accepting that. After Lester hears the whistle of the 11:59 he knows that death is coming, and thinks to himself about what he remembers about the story. “‘Ain’t no way to escape the final ride on the 11:59. ‘But I’m gon’ try!’ Lester spent the rest of the night plotting his escape from death.’” Although he knows the facts of the Death Train, he tries to avoid the final ride and makes a plan. This is because he has trouble accepting the facts of the 11:59, even though he tells the story in his free time. His words …show more content…
After Lester tries to escape the 11:59 by making a plan, he ends up failing. An old friend, Tip, shows up at his home, and tells him that his time is up. “‘It’s me ol’ partner. Come to remind you that none of us can escape the last ride on the 11:59.’” Tip reminds Lester that nobody can escape the Death Train. The 11:59 symbolizes death in this story. This is because in the story characters refer to it as the Death Train. Tip saying that nobody can escape the 11:59 is symbolizing that nobody can escape death. If nobody is being able to escape death, that means that nobody can escape the inevitable. This is because death is one in many examples of something inevitable. Tip is really saying that no matter how hard someone tries, no one can escape the inevitable. Although characters is one of the parts of a story that help reveal the theme of a story, plot can help determine theme