On the Beach

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Summary

Chapter Four

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Summary Chapter Four

Moira begins her personal transformation by attending church. She then insists on mending Dwight's socks, a means to keep busy and to express her affection for the submarine captain. She continues to nurture their friendship even after she knows Dwight will never be disloyal to his wife. Even though Moira will not find physical comfort in Dwight's arms, she recognizes that his influence is helping her cope with the situation and use her days wisely. By closing the door on her room full of toys she saved to give to her children, Moira is accepting the fact that she is not destined to have her own family.

Meanwhile, Dwight does cling to the nostalgia of America and his family. He delights in seeing trees from the Northern Hemisphere because they are like him, among the last living survivors from that half of the world. John also begins to reveal his eccentricity in this chapter. Unlike many of the other characters, he is realistic enough to accept the impending doom, and therefore uses his last days to do everything he always dreamed about but never did because he did not have the time or money. Ironically, he takes up racecar driving—his love for machines not diminished by the fact that machines and technology caused the devastating war.

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