Q: Compare and contrast the ways in which adults and children are presented in the extract.

The Last Night by Sebastian Faulks is an extract set in France, in the 1940s, occupied by Germans during the Second World War. It centers around two protagonists, Jacob and Andre, who are waiting to be taken to the concentration camp. Through the lives of the two boys readers see the helplessness of being sent to a concentration camp, conveying the effects of the departure on everyone, the adults powerlessness to the event, and the childrens resistance. Firstly, readers see the attitudes of both, the adults and children as being very different towards the seriousness of the situation. This is known by the actions exemplified the night before the departure when adultsslumped against the walls, wakeful and talking in lowered voices. Here, the writer awares readers of the impact of the situation on the adults. The diction of the word slumped seems to denote a simple body posture, but also connotes the reaction to the realization of the future events. Moreover, the phrase slumped against the walls shows how weak adult individuals have become and now they seek support of non living things such as the walls who are seen to be in a better situation than the living humans. Also, the word wakeful suggests awareness of the unpredictable surrounding atmosphere where alertness is highly important. Besides, the phrase talking in lowered voices connotes the last chance of being together as a group, but also infers to the caring attitudes towards children, who unlike them are asleep and unaware of the foreboding reality. In contrast, the children in this extract are seen to be unaware of the surrounding harsh reality. This is evident when the narrator says, somehow spared the last hours of the wait by their ability to fall asleepdream of other places. Here, the word somehow is a connector of contrast that seems to be ambiguous to the readers as it provokes questions within them to question the uncertainty of the situation. Moreover, the connotations of the word spared portray an attitude of being unaware and portraying childish innocence, of being far from the tyranny. The time phrase last hours suggests the short time period before the foreboding departure. Also, the writers use of the word ability accentuates the childish skill required to go far from the reality. This also connotes that simple attitudes such as of a child are needed to escape the serious situation. Moreover, the phrase, dream of other places portrays the simple activity such as of sleeping to escape to a better, more peaceful world. Here, the phrase other places suggests that at this moment in time any place other than the current location would seem better, especially innocent children who dont seem to deserve such harsh treatment. Therefore, such innocence within children provokes pathos within readers who are brought out of their comfort zones and left unsettled. Furthermore, adults are seen to be powerless throughout. Also, their actions and reactions are seen to make their reality evident. This is noted when they are given the last chance to write to their loved one, some wrote with sobbing passionpunctilious care. The use of strong adjectives such as sobbing, describes the state in which some of the adults wrote their letters back home. Sobbing, is an active verb that makes the readers visualize and almost hear. Besides, the diction of the word passion suggests the depth of their sorrow and misery. This makes the readers empathize and show sympathy. Also, the phrase punctilious care delineates an image of an action that is of great importance to the powerless adults as they have accepted their fate that foreshadows unexpectedness.

In comparison, a similar reaction is seen amongst Andre and Jacob. This is evident when the narrator says, he held on hard to Jacob as they mounted the platform of the bus. The alliteration of the hard h sounds is quite heavy here and seems to sound like gasps of hesitation. In addition, the phrase held on hard is quite emotive as it shows readers the remorse situation. Moreover, the readers are forced to question such misery of orphans, who are already alone and are further being parted. From the readers perception, this seems unjustly and unacceptable against their harsh reality. In comparison, to the previously mentioned adults, readers see a similar view of reality and fate that awaits all (both children and adults). Also, the collective cruelty is seen on both adults and kids who are forced because of their ethnicity as Jews. This discrimination leaves readers to wonder the reason behind the Jew Holocaust and questions the need for such tyranny. As a result, the similarities and differences between the two generations of adults and children portray the inevitable fate that awaits both, to a great extent. Although, the Jew Holocaust had severely affected many Jews, it was also a turning point of turmoil as many lives had changed almost entirely. In the last night, readers experience sufferings of many innocent beings, who powerlessly obeyed the orders that foreboded harsh reality.