Bear Grylls once said, “Survival can be summed up in three words– never give up.” This is exactly what the characters going through in a nuclear war. The drastic experience takes the characters on an emotional journey as well as help them take a look at the world through a different perspective. “Alas, Babylon,” a classic apocalyptic novel by Pat Frank, utilizes psychological situations and common knowledge to show that survival of the fittest brings out the true nature of people
The characters go through many emotional and psychological situations that bring out their actual inner being. These circumstances change the way they look at everything and impact them directly. For instance, Randy was getting a haircut by Helen when she claims that he was Mark, her husband who’s away at Omaha as well as Randy’s brother, and kisses him. Randy does not understand what is wrong with her and Lib gives him a logical explanation, saying that “[Helen] is a person who requires love and is used to it” (Frank 223). Being a mother who does not have a husband by her side is already making her relationship with Randy awkward, knowing that he and Mark have many similarities. She has a great deed of loyalty towards her husband, but needs the abundance of love that she gives. Though a wife can give her unconditional love to her children, there’s a difference between her love for her kids and love for her life partner. In times like these, someone would want as much as comfort that they can give. By moving in with Randy, the distance between her and Mark takes a huge toll on her heart. She would not be one of the fittest in the population. Giving love is one the things that people struggled with. They do not know when to give it or when it is actually necessary. This does not apply to Randy, he knows that “this incident was important only because it was self-revelatory. Randy knew he would have to play by the old rules” (Frank 98). As Randy was driving along the road, he sees a new sedan that crashes before his eyes. The average person would just drive by and act like nothing happened, however, Randy keeps his sanity and checks on the woman. He knows that he cannot change his heart just because a nuclear bomb lands in Florida. He provides for everyone, yet still survives. Randy seems to be calm knowing that everyone else is safe and in good condition. He sees the brighter future by bringing everyone together. One of the reasons that people come together is the common necessity that everyone has, hunger. In this case, “the economics of [nuclear] disaster placed a penalty upon prejudice. The laws of hunger and survival could not be evaded, and honored no color line” (Frank 190). In the novel, men of all races trade to have a mutual relationship with each other; bringing something that someone else needs, while getting something in return. Survival brings people together with kind hearts. Even in the real world, after a natural or human disaster, strangers join forces against the aftermath to help all injuried. This benefits everyone when all they are trying to do is survive. Knowing that someone dies everyday, they help each other to help get through the next day and be the fittest of those who remain.
The characters in “Alas, Babylon” experience many different situations which cause them to formulate logical theories that can help them through their struggles of surviving. With two nuclear bombs landing, this shows how people would actually deal with a crisis. According to Arnold Toynbee, a British historian and philosopher, “some nations and some people melt in the heat of the crisis…Others meet challenges and harden” (Frank 133). When Randy does not believe that he can go through this battle, Dan Gunn, his best friend and doctor, tells him this. While many people show their fears in dangerous situations like those in the novel, Randy is the type of person who becomes brave and faces the challenge head on. He realizes that after all of his hard work that they actually survive, proving that he was one of the fittest. His determination pays off when the only thing he wants is to survive. That is the only resolution that everyone wants to reach throughout this novel. Winning the war is not part of their concern. The Admiral knows that they will not achieve anything from winning the war and claims that “[nobody is] winning. Cities are dying and ships are sinking and aircraft is going in, but “[nobody is] winning” (Frank 141). Admiral Sam realizes that no war in anger will ever have success. He informs Randy that, win or lose, the only thing they need to do is survive in order to see the aftermath of what is left behind from all of the destruction. With the Admiral’s knowledge, Randy finds himself visiting him more often. His unusual behavior causes their success, but throughout their journey, there are many changes to themselves and the environment. A country with no control will leave a scar in the mind of Ben. Along with the duty of guarding the barn and the hen house, Ben must also look out for predators and kill them if possible. After shooting a dog, Ben is in shock realizing his actions which causes Randy to calm him down, saying, “It was a wolf…It [was not] a dog any longer. In times like these dogs can turn into wolves” (Frank 244). Randy has to explain to Ben that any creature would go to the extremes just so they can survive in a corrupt world where no one can be there for them. In this case, the ownership of the dog is completely lost when the war starts, therefore it has to travel on its own, becoming a raved beast that everyone would be afraid to go near. It becomes the fittest in its community proving that it can outlast the others. This also applies to humans. Scenarios like these can modify the way that they look upon the world and themselves. This can either make the person change for the better or worse. It can change their point of view on the world forever.
“Alas, Babylon” shows that emotional trials and logical theories can modify a person’s true being. The characters’ emotional changes and the guidance of their rational influences causes them to recover and change their times for the better. This classic apocalyptic novel brings out the true nature of everyone through survival of the fittest.