Survival vs. humanity is a key element present in Z for Zachariah to show audiences the consequences of losing their humanity against survival because of the future outcomes associated with an unchanged society. Humanity is hard to keep in desperate times like in Ann’s world, although, she is able to maintain it because of her belief that life is going to get better and it will be easier to survive. Through rituals, Ann is also able to maintain her humanity even when Mr Loomis became ill, she looked after him although he could’ve been a threat, “I would go to church in the morning, and try to make the rest of the day a day of rest, as Sunday is supposed to be…the man was a stranger and I was afraid of him…worrying about him being sick…he might die made me feel quite desperate.” This is how humanity is maintained in a world like Ann’s, warning the readers about the importance of keeping their humanity in serious situations so that they can understand how to survive, but not be blinded by it. …show more content…
Unlike Ann, Mr Loomis sees survival as a life and death situation that is, he would rather choose to survive than maintain his humanity and that’s what he did. He had been so blinded, that he switched off his humanity, causing him to change his human behaviour, putting Ann in danger, “He’ll steal the suit…keep away from the suit. Never touch it…both his hands were all over me…in a dreadful, possessive way.” Mr Loomis is shown protecting things he loves – the safe suit because he believes it’s the key to survival and doesn’t allow Ann to use it either, showing how selfish he’s become because of the strong desire to survive. The readers also notice how he forgot how to behave, therefore putting someone else at