Survival

Survival is an important theme in the novel “The Lifeboat” by Charlotte Rogan. Survival appears in three primary ways in the novel, including survival of the sinking of the Empress Alexandra, survival on Lifeboat 14, and survival during trial. Each appearance of survival in the novel is predicated on two philosophical ideas spoken about by Mr. Sinclair. In the first, owing to Thomas Hobbes, Sinclair explains that human beings are motivated in life primarily by fear or power. The second, Sinclair explains that only in times of loneliness and challenge is the true nature of a human being revealed.

The first appearance of survival in the novel comes through the sinking of the Empress Alexandra. The sinking is more than likely attributable to a German U-Boat attack. The ship sinks fast enough so that only 11 of the 20 lifeboats aboard the Alexandra are able to be launched, and...