Conflict as Fundamental to the Human Experience in 'Past the Shallows' Anonymous 12th Grade

Conflict is an unavoidable and fundamental aspect of human life. Favell Parrett explains how narrative is, and has always been, a powerful tool to express the impact of human experience on individuals in her gripping coming of age novel Past the Shallows, a novel about three brothers, Harry, Miles, and Joe Curren, growing up in a small fishing town on Bruny Island off the southeastern coast of Tasmania, Australia. Parrett skilfully weaves incidents that chronicle the psychological and moral growth of her characters, in particular the impact of the past on the present, through captivating characterisation and an intriguing, dynamic storytelling structure. When addressing the themes of power and impact of relationships, innocence of childhood and human connection, the concept of conflict is explored as the characters face major conflict in themes throughout their lives, which therefore results in human experiences and how they are interpreted.

Abuse and conflict within power has the potential to taint human experiences and create insurmountable obstacles in the lives of those who lack control. Conflict has the capacity to harm us psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, and physically in many parts of our human experiences....