The city is a dense, populous human settlement which is the most common form of society. As of 2017, nearly half of the world’s population lives in urban areas.
The prevalence of the city as a populated area means that it receives a lot of attention. What makes a good city? How do you create a livable one? These questions are asked very often, and with good reason!
Many great writers have written about the city, both in fiction and nonfiction. Some write about the loneliness or isolation one can feel in a large city, while others talk about the connections people make. Still others discuss the hustle and bustle and how that affects people.
Many writers who have written extensively about cities include Charles Dickens, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf. All of these authors wrote some pieces specifically about cities, including their pros and cons, their ups and downs, and their social dynamics.
Description of the port
The port is a very large container terminal in the city of Port of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago. The port is one of the most important ports in the Caribbean region.
Thousands of containers pass through the port every year, holding everything from fruits and vegetables to cars and consumer goods. These containers come from all over the world, especially from China.
The size and capacity of the Port of Spain has increased several times over the past few decades, making it one of the biggest ports in the Caribbean. It now has two seaports and over a dozen berths that can handle ships up to 50,000 deadweight tons.
The first seaport was built in 1903, making it one of the oldest seaports in South America. It was originally built to handle sugarcane exports, but later became a part of shipping oil and petroleum products. Today, it handles a wide range of cargo types.
Importance of ports
Port towns are very important in the history of Portugal. Many of the famous explorers that traveled to Africa and India left from Lisbon, making it a central point for exploration.
Many of the colonies in Africa and India were also supplied by Portuguese merchants through the ports in Lisbon. So, not only did exploration fuel trade, but trade fueled further exploration.
Moreover, the wealth gained from trade helped to fund the Portuguese monarchy. The rich resources imported and exported through Lisbon made it one of the most prosperous cities in Europe during this time.
Portuguese ships were also heavily armed which gave them an advantage when sailing across dangerous waters. Having a strong navy is always a good thing when you want to maintain your country’s security!
Many people know about Cristiano Ronaldo and football (soccer) but there are several other sportspeople that come from Portugal such as Nani and Joao Felix.
Cause of the emptiness
The cause of this empty city is the event known as the Seven Minutes of Darkness. In this event, a massive number of people disappeared in a single moment.
The official story is that there was an explosion at the outskirts of the city that caused all people within the city to disappear. Those outside the city remained outside, and those inside disappeared.
Some believe that this was caused by some sort of alien technology or force, while others think it was a form of divine intervention. No one really knows what happened, but most people accept that this event happened and it was not a good thing.
Whatever happened, it caused a large-scale panic as people tried to figure out what was going on and where everyone went. Luckily, there were very few serious injuries prior to the incident so there were not many deaths due to it.
Personality of the narrator
When choosing your narrator, consider how their personality will influence the story. Will they be formal or informal? Friendly or cold?
You can choose a narrator who is not part of the story, an internal narrator who is part of the story, or an omniscient narrator who knows all.
A formal, internal narrator can add a sense of authority to the story. This is helpful if you want to put in lots of details without having to say, “Hey, this happened because…” or “This is what I think about it.”
An informal, external narrator can bring a sense of friendliness or empathy to the story. If your character has gone through something tough, this can help comfort and support your reader.
An omniscient narrator can help move the story along and keep readers informed on other details besides what happens to one character. This type of narrator also has the ability to add their own opinion into the narrative.
The presence of a dog
The presence of a dog in the house is a strong factor in determining how happy the human members of the house will be.
Several studies have found that people with dogs are happier, more relaxed, and more socially connected than people without pets.
Canine companions bring benefits to both children and adults, helping reduce stress and encouraging exercise.
Experts believe this is because dogs require exercise and attention, making their owners more conscious of time and spending time with them.
But getting a dog isn’t an easy decision to make—there are plenty of considerations to make before taking on the responsibility of owning one.
The cost of pets is one issue that many people think about before getting a dog. Can you really afford all the expenses that come with having a pet? You may need to buy food, toys, beds, etc., all at varying costs.
Symbols in the port
In his book, Caliban describes the port as full of chaos and disorder. He refers to it as a place of ruin and corruption, where he can find work as a laborer.
He compares the port to his homeland, which he describes as being rich with nature but poor in culture. By leaving his homeland for the port, he is sacrificing one for the other.
He also mentions that in his homeland, nature is so overpowering that it limits what kind of buildings or structures can be built. In the port, there is no such limitation.
This seems to refer both to the fact that there are no natural barriers to development (i.e. oceans and rivers) and that there is nothing preventing development of infrastructure (i.e. no mountains or swamps).
Finally, Caliban mentions bloodlines: he believes that those born in the port are not truly related to those who were born in his homeland. This may be an allusion to race.
Explanation of the emptiness
The emptiness of the port is due to a couple of things. First, as mentioned before, the cities are shifting more and more towards smart cities and away from manufacturing cities.
Second, trade wars are likely to reduce the demand for foreign goods, making overseas ports less relevant. Third, automation will likely reduce the need for ports overall.
While some argue that automation may increase the demand for goods due to cheaper production costs, this may not be the case in the long run. If goods become too cheap to sell, then there is no point in buying them. No one will buy a $1,000 couch if they can buy a $100 automated couch that does the same thing.
This would only cause worldwide issues with too much automation and no demand for goods. Fourth, climate change is likely to make ports less relevant over time as sea levels rise.
Symbolism in the story
Symbolism is a common device used in storytelling. Key ideas and concepts are often represented by objects, people, or places. In The God-Shaped Hole, the main character Ed’s life is shaped by his relationship with his father.
Relationships with our parents shape us, for good and for bad. How we relate to them can impact how we relate to others in the future.
Ed’s father was very abusive towards him and his mother when he was a child. This had a huge impact on Ed, making him fear relationships with other people later in life.
The ocean played a large role in this story. Many of the scenes take place at the beach and ocean imagery is used to describe various things. The ocean is also something that cannot be controlled, just like childhood trauma can’t be controlled. Both can have devastating effects on someone.
