The End Of Eternity Analysis

During a flashback, Harlan remembers Educator Yarrow warning the group of newly minted Eternals that, “failure in it [Observing], even small failure, will put you into Maintenance no matter how brilliant your potentialities now seem” (Asimov 21). Maintenance is further called, “the hallmark of failure” (Asimov 216). Maintenance, a parallel for the working class, is looked down on, only slightly less so than women. While Asimov doesn’t dwell on class warfare to the extent that it does gender, there is a definite classist theme being portrayed from beginning to end. As the novel progresses, and Harlan evolves, he begins evaluating Maintenance’s significance in a new light as illustrated in Harlan’s inner musings later in the novel. Harlan is

Asimov not only uses circumstances and dialogue to propel his readers toward an understanding of the “point” of his novel, he also uses carefully chosen style and diction to underscore his sociological points. For example, Asimov uses the verb “leer” (Asimov 50) to describe the look on a man’s face while he is talking about Noÿs- clearly suggesting lecherous motives. Shortly after, Harlan, while suggesting to Finge that Noÿs be removed from eternity says, “As to her incompetence and unsuitability, Computer, I cannot say” (Asimov 54). The decision to use a negative prefix in this line, rather than leaving it at “competence” and “suitability”, indicates again that Asimov is intentionally using language with negative connotations to depict the typical attitude toward women in Eternity. Pages later, Asimov paints Harlan as a love-sick boy by characterizing the tone of his dialogue with Noÿs as a “desperate whisper” (Asimov 58) while he is merely trying to move by her in a hallway. He then depicts Noÿs as moving by Harlan, “with a slow swing of her hips” (Asimov 58), again using language carefully to suggest Noÿs’ sex appeal and Harlan’s helplessness to resist

As mentioned earlier, “The End of Eternity” appears to be plot-driven, putting little time into artistic flourish and fanciful descriptions. The choice to make this a fast-moving story with little time dedicated to character development underscores the importance of, and draws attention to, what little descriptive detail there is. It is not by chance that Asimov chose to make the description of Noÿs, and her sex appeal, one of the most detailed descriptions in the novel. “She was dressed in the style of the upper classes of the 482nd, which meant transparent sheathing and not very much else above the waist, and flimsy, knee length trousers below. The latter, while opaque enough, hinted delicately at gluteal curves. Her hair was glossily dark and shoulder length, her lips redly penciled thin above and full below in an exaggerated pout. Her upper eyelids and her earlobes were tinted a pale rose and the rest of her youthful (almost girlish) face was a startlingly milky white. Jeweled pendants descended forward from mid-shoulder to tinkle now this die, now that of the graceful breasts to which they drew attention” (Asimov 50,51). By describing the solitary female portrayed in “The End of Eternity” in exclusively, and overtly, sexual terms, Asimov is cleverly highlighting the attitudes of Eternity