Not quite a room, Jeevan thought now, looking around the stage. It was too transitory, all those doorways and dark spaces between wings, the missing ceiling. It was more like a terminal, he thought, a train station or an airport, everyone passing quickly through.
In "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel, the protagonist, Jeevan, reflects on his surroundings, recognizing that the space he occupies is not a conventional room. Instead, it feels temporary and incomplete, with doorways and shadows suggesting a sense of flux. This observation leads him to liken the space to a terminal, emphasizing its transitory nature.
This portrayal captures a broader theme of the novel, where characters navigate a world altered by catastrophe. The imagery of a train station or airport conveys the fleeting connections between people and places, highlighting the impermanence and uncertainty that pervade their lives.