World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler - Essay Example

The fictional world is wholly exposed of its modern comforts, plagued with epidemics, ravaged by terrorism and the economic tribulations which are a result of the sky-rocketing oil prices. Robert Earle is the local carpenter who narrates the story and has lost his son and wife. He tries to bring into focus the numerous contrasting groups which are an indication of where the society is heading after the break down the existent social norms (Kunstler, p. 5). As the novel begins the populace of Union Grove is faced with hard times as it is during the period where the national catastrophe is ending.

The community is gradually falling due to natural decay and the neglect by the state. Amongst the contrasting groups is the group led by Wayne Karp who is a very rough leader of thugs and scrappers whose main aim is to salvage around the country thus living in a community of trailers called Karptown. As the novel begins, it starts with Brother Jobe coming into town as the leader of a spiritual group. This New Faith Church led by Brother Jobe arrives from the southern part and puts up residence in the old high school.

Steven Bullock also leads another faction. He is a landed farmer who has the vision to set up his farm to be similar as an English manor so that he becomes self sufficient (Kunstler, p.34). The other parts of the nation seems to be just falling apart as there are nuclear blasts in Washington D.C and Los Angeles. These forces pull together which puts survival as a struggle than never imagined before. Most of Earle’s experiences turn to be the focal point of the struggle. Robert Earle is a very important character in the development of the plot for the whole novel.

He is the key character as well as the narrator of the story. Having worked with computers until the change of events, he currently works as the carpenter. He plays the fiddle in the town’s musical groups and acts as the bridge between the new age and the past. The past consisted of democratic values while the present world he lives in is comprised of dystopian forces (Kunstler, p. 23). This is an indication on how the past lived with the interest of every individual at heart as it was democratic.

This shades light into the history of the people of the town on how they previously lived with freedom and were treated fairly. With the rising challenges in the current society it paves way for emergence of dystopian forces plunging the town into a state of no law and order. Robert is all alone after the death of wife from the epidemic flu and the departure of his son to see what has happened to the remaining parts of the world. When a member of Karp’s men is murdered and the New Faith Church arrives he realizes the need for the town to be protective so that it can take care of its businesses as a community.

When elected as the mayor he makes attempts to restore peace and law within the town. Trying to restore of the rule law and organization is an indication of the current state of affairs which surround the current community. Robert is the most important character in the story that I can identify with. This is due to his desire to restore decree and order within the town which is being faced by numerous challenges and is in a crisis. His will to see to it the past democratic values are returned into town is commendable (Kunstler, p.68). I identify with this character due to the chaos that is existent in the town; it gives me the desire to see that normalcy returns into the town.

The development of the plot in the novel is an indication of the progressive degradation of the town as violence and the economic crisis escalates. Robert is bothered by all this and has the desire to see to it that normal law and order is returned in the town.