Lastly, Bacigalupi illustrates the significance of humans placing trust in one another through referring to the symbolic importance of the blood oaths. It is ultimately through the use of symbolism, which has allowed for Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker to act as a literary rendition of the key aspects which humanity can give credit to for its survival. The blood oaths within the novel Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi displays the significant role which trust plays in allowing mankind to survive. Through the progression of the novel, the characters are forced to rely on one another in order to survive, and the blood oaths represent the belief which they place in one another. Bacigalupi begins highlighting the importance of this trust, as he showcases the consequences of one who proves to be untrustworthy. Following his near death encounter with the oil room, Nailer reflects on how Sloth will, “Never work as a Ship Breaker again. And probably nowhere else, either. Not after breaking blood oaths. She’d proven no one could trust her.” (Bacigalupi 40) Upon staring into the eyes of death, Nailer is shown the dangers of …show more content…
Beginning with the Clipper Ships, Bacigalupi showcases the role which freedom plays in allowing for humanity to retain the meaning of life. From there, the author utilizes the train as a physical depiction of one of the requirements for survival, having the ability to adapt over the course of time. Finally, Bacigalupi showcases the significance of trusting others through making multiple references to the blood oaths. In fact, through the usage of these symbols, Bacigalupi has left an underlying message for all of humanity to observe. Central to this message is the idea that man most come to understand that while the gift of life was easily obtained; it is maintaining this privilege which becomes the challenge. Thus far, humanity has done rather well to model day to day life based on the three primary keys to survival. However, the three pillars of survival were similarly seen within Paolo Bacigalupi’s novel, only for humanity’s stupidity to destroy them. In fact, Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker serves as a literary rendition of the possible challenges which humanity may very well bring upon itself. Whether or not man posses the ability to ensure the pillars of survival remains intact is yet to be seen. As a result, one must begin considering both the faults in humanity and that of themselves in order to ensure that