Death, Life, A Man Alone, and Epilogue Summary and Analysis

On the night of April 20th, Callahan wakes to see a soft glow on the horizon followed by the unmistakable flash of a lighthouse. Land! Overjoyed, Callahan guzzles water in celebration as he ponders the question of which land mass it is that he has found. Anticipating a trialsome landfall, Callahan gets some sleep. When he wakes on the morning of April 21st, his eyes are met by a color other than blue: green! Nearby, just five miles away, are two islands. Callahan anticipates landfall that afternoon, but is worried that he might be dashed against the coral reef.

Callahan turns on the emergency beacon and pads himself with whatever materials he can find. As he plots his approach, hoping for the raft's cooperation, he hears the sound of...