Past the shallows practice essay

In the passage from Favel Parrett’s novel Past the Shallows, Dad and Miles are out on the
boat fishing with Dad’s friends Martin and Jeff. They have come across a bountiful supply of
Atlantic salmon, but the positive chaos caused by this discovery switches to fear and panic
as a Mako shark comes aboard the boat. The overarching theme of isolation is explored in
the passage through the evident lack of positive role models for Miles, through change in
both place and people and through place and the environment.

Throughout the passage the depiction of negative role models in Miles’ life is shown
through the characters of Dad, Jeff and Martin, and seen through the impact this has on
Miles. The violent actions depicted in all three men is symbolic that they are not positive
characters in Miles’ life. Alliteration is used to describe Martin’s “swift stabs” to kill the fish
and is contrasted to Miles not being “very good at (killing the fish)”. Miles’ character is
developed through this – he knows that it “wasn’t cruel if you did it properly”, but his
“hesitation” shows that although he has negative surrounds, he is not a bad person himself.
The influence of Jeff’s violent action of “pushing” past Miles is shown through the literal
impact this has on their current scenario – verbs are used to show the boat “quaking”,
“tipping”, “sliding” and “smashing” – symbolic of the impact which his violence and
inconsiderate actions have on Miles as a person. A mood of panic and fear is created, and
Martin “hurts” Miles by pulling his legs – the opposite of what a caring role model would do
in the scenario. Miles’ childhood is seen to be one lacking much fun – symbolised in the
chaotic mood at the start of the passage with positive verbs of “yanking”, “grabbing” and
“sliding” – this moment is seen as special in that it is a rare positive moment with his father.
The use of Miles’ point of view in third person allows us to see the way in which his father
has impacted upon him – he describes the salmon as “vicious little bastards” – rough
language which he has picked up from his Dad. This positivity does not last long as the Mako
shark “pins” Miles down. The juxtaposing of the panic felt when the shark comes on board
to Jeff “laughing” shows the extremity of the adult’s negativity as role models and short,
incomplete sentences are used to depict panic and the lack of processing.

The unpredictable changes Miles experiences in his life through both people and the
environment is explored through isolation – in setting and socially. The extreme and sudden
changes he experiences in his life is shown through the necessity in taking opportunities
when they arrive. A frantic and chaotic atmosphere is created in the beginning of the
passage through the visual imagery of Miles “scrambling around on the deck” and Dad
casting “quickly” – they know that the “fat” salmon which are worth more than the abalone
they rely on will not be a permanent opportunity and so they must take advantage. The idea
of change is seen in the alliteration used to describe the “sudden stillness” brought about by
the Mako – of great contrast to the mood brought about catching the salmon. The
descriptions then became negative with Miles’ third person descriptions becoming short
and disjoint to symbolise his panic. Repetition of “hard” and “coming” is used to show that
he is not processing what is going on, and that he is panicked by the situation. The awkward
punctuation and the series of adjectives used to describe the “steel blue skin” of the shark
show that Miles regresses in his inability to think straight. The situation of the atmosphere
changing so suddenly is symbolic of Dad’s personality in Miles’ life. Miles only experiences
small moments of fun few and far between – often followed by fear, anger and
unpredictability made possible through the isolation of the place in which they live where
everybody minds their own business.

The isolation of the place where they live is explored through the theme of nature and the
influence of the environment in Miles’ life. In the passage, nature is seen in different forms
for different people – as a source of income and livelihood for the adults, and as a teacher
for Miles. The visual imagery of the “fat” fish and the “full” tub show that nature can be
bountiful and provide more than enough to survive on, but that taking advantage of
nature’s providing’s is of great risk. The imagery of the Mako shark’s mouth “closing in on
the salmon” is symbolic of opportunities in Miles’ life – in the isolation of the rural place in
which he lives, he is unable to take opportunities without the burden of his abusive father
or responsibility for Harry “closing in” on him and taking it away. Nature is seen as a
powerful force in the passage through the way in which it creates the tone, mood and
atmosphere. The abundance of salmon creates a positive chaos and is juxtaposed to the
“stillness” of the fear created when the Mako shark comes on board. Isolation is used to
show that where Miles lives, nobody will interfere to help, or if law is broken. The cruelness
shown through Jeff’s gunshot and following “laughter” is symbolic that these adults in
Miles’ life will do what they want without fear of consequence. Nature is seen as a teacher
through tactile imagery describing the shark “touching (Miles’) arm, touching his skin” but
leaving him unharmed – Miles’ is more understanding of nature and does not take
advantage, whereas Martin’s consequence is described through aural imagery of a
“sickening crack” from the shark’s “curved teeth that spilled out in every direction”
described with visual imagery to enhance fear and power which nature holds over their
lives.

Ultimately, throughout the passage the key idea of isolation is explored through the
negativity of the role models in Miles’ life, the changing nature of varying aspects of his life
and the influence that nature and the environment have on his livelihood. Through Miles’
perspective in third person we are able to further understand the influence of the adults in
his life and the role of nature as both a means of survival and as a teacher.