In "Station Eleven," Emily St. John Mandel paints a world where the fragility of life is starkly highlighted due to the collapse of society. The quote emphasizes the unsettling reality of living without access to modern medicine. Everyday injuries, which were once trivial and easily treatable, now harbor the potential for serious consequences, underscoring a deep loss of safety and security.

This absence of pharmaceuticals illustrates the vulnerabilities that emerge in a post-apocalyptic scenario. The assurance that once accompanied small accidents and routine activities evaporates, leaving characters to grapple with their mortality and the unpredictability of survival in a harsh new environment.