Radios

Radios are a symbol of connectivity in a novel that is otherwise marked by isolation and division. The residents of Barren Shoal, though close in geographic proximity to their New York City neighbors, are often depicted as deeply, distantly removed from the rest of civilization. They are isolated in their uniquely grotesque standard of living under the smells of the cutting factory, and they are likewise overlooked or marginalized by union organizers, medical services, or city developers, further driving them into isolation. Radios, however, provide a link to a shared culture not only in New York, but across the country and even the world. Residents are able to tune in to daily news reports, political broadcasts, baseball games, radio dramas, and music shared by thousands. Radios connect Barren Shoal to their greater community and to the world around them, providing a constant reminder that there is...