Station Eleven - Chapter 9

Summary

In 'Station Eleven', the Symphony, a traveling group of artists, arrives in St. Debra by the Water. They find it eerily empty, unlike their previous visit. Despite performing 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', they struggle to engage the sparse audience, reflecting the desolation of the post-apocalyptic world.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The script is from 'Station Eleven' by Emily St. John Mandel, focusing on Part Two, Chapter Nine, which revolves around the Symphony's arrival in St. Debra by the Water.
• 🚗 The Symphony, a group of musicians and actors, had previously left Charlie and her six guitars in St. Debra, with arrangements to stay in a former Wendy's by the gas station.
• 🤰 Charlie is pregnant, and the Symphony had made sure she would not have to give birth on the road, indicating a sense of community and care within the group.
• 🏠 The town of St. Debra is described as a place that isn't distinctly part of any town, with a gas station, chain restaurants, and a motel along the road, marking the southwestern border of the Symphony's territory.
• 🎵 The Symphony moves through the town playing music, but unusually, their performance draws almost no onlookers, contrasting with their previous reception in Traverse City.
• 👶 There is a sense of concern as Charlie and the six guitars are not found at their expected location, suggesting something might be amiss.
• 🛒 The group parks their caravans near the broken doors of a Walmart, discussing their usual routines and the choice of play for their performance.
• 🎭 The actors debate over which play to perform, with suggestions ranging from 'King Lear' to 'Hamlet', and finally settling on 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for the evening's performance.
• 👫 The script reveals personal relationships and tensions within the group, particularly between Kirsten and Alexander, who are no longer a couple due to an affair.
• 🌄 The setting is described with vivid imagery, including mirages, phantom pools, and the oppressive heat, contributing to a surreal and eerie atmosphere.
• 🎭 The rehearsal for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is interrupted by the characters' personal issues, reflecting the interplay between their art and their real lives.

Q & A

What is the setting of the story in 'Station Eleven' Part Two, Chapter Nine?

The story is set in a town called St. Debra by the water, which is marked by a gas station, a few chain restaurants, a motel, and a Walmart along a road.

What significant event is mentioned to have occurred in the past in St. Debra by the water?

A character named Charlie had been left in St. Debra by the water two years ago, pregnant with a baby.

What is the role of the Symphony in the story?

The Symphony is a group of musicians who travel and perform music in various locations, drawing attention and creating a sense of community.

Why was Charlie staying in the former Wendy's by the gas station?

Arrangements were made for Charlie to stay there so she wouldn't have to give birth on the road.

How does the Symphony's arrival in St. Debra by the water differ from their arrival in Traverse City?

In Traverse City, the crowd following them had swelled to a hundred, but in St. Debra by the water, only four or five people came to watch them, indicating a lack of interest or a smaller population.

What is the significance of the Walmart in the story?

The Walmart is where the Symphony decides to set up camp, and it is also a place where they discuss their performances and routines.

Who is Charlie and what is her connection to the Symphony?

Charlie is a character who was left in St. Debra by the water by the Symphony two years prior, and she is pregnant with the 'six guitars' baby.

What is the mood of the town as the Symphony moves through it?

The town appears to be eerily quiet and empty, with very few people coming out to watch the Symphony, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

What is the dilemma the actors face regarding their performance?

The actors are debating whether to perform 'King Lear' because they have been rehearsing it all week, 'Hamlet' because it hasn't been performed in a month, or 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for a lighter mood.

How does Kirsten's relationship with Alexander affect their performance?

Kirsten and Alexander have a strained relationship due to Kirsten sleeping with a traveling peddler out of boredom, which makes it difficult for her to meet his eyes during their performances together.

What is the significance of the line 'fairies skip hence, skip hence' in the script?

This line is from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and is used in the script to highlight the actors' decision to perform a lighter play, contrasting with the eerie atmosphere of the town.