How does the author’s decision to open with the catastrophe of the shipwreck before moving back in time to recount the Baileys’ courtship and preparations affect the reader’s interpretation of their choices and motivations?

By beginning with the shipwreck, Elmhirst frames the Baileys’ story through the lens of disaster, immediately highlighting the stakes of their decisions. This structure encourages the reader to interpret their earlier choices, especially embarking on a dangerous voyage without a radio, as foreshadowing the consequences to come. It also casts their motivations in a heroic or reckless light, depending on individual interpretations, since the narrative already reveals the extreme outcome. The contrast between their initial idealism and the later catastrophe deepens tension and suspense, while prompting reflection on the interplay of naivety and resilience in shaping the trajectory of their lives.

How does the author use irony to frame the Baileys’ vision of autonomy at sea, particularly in relation to the consequences of their decision not to carry a radio?