Pat Frank uses dynamic character, developing plot, and external conflict in Alas, Babylon to support his theme, “When a common goal is presented to a group, a sense of family and community develops.” Throughout the story Alas, Babylon, Pat Frank uses dynamic characters to reinforce the communal bonds formed with a common goal. At the beginning of the story, Frank describes Randy as a less-than-average man, and a peeping tom towards Florence, writing, “Sometimes he swept the whole of River Road with his glasses, pretending an interest elsewhere, but more often the focused on her bungalow. Randy Rowzee Bragg a Peeping Tom! It was shocking” (4)! In this introduction, Randy is little more than a creep. He’s an inconsiderate, degenerate man who …show more content…
When we are first introduced to the story of Alas, Babylon, there is no goal, motive, or anything of the sort. There is nothing for the characters to accomplish, and as such is nothing to force them together as an, albeit temporary, team. Comparing two points within the story, pre and post bomb-drop, there is a drastic change in motives, dynamics/relationships, and personalities of character as a result of the, now starting to truly develop, plot. When introducing Randy, a moment before the bomb was dropped, Frank writes, “As she wrestled with her girdle, Florence's thought gravitated to the equally prying behavior of Randy Bragg. She adjusted the venetian blinds until she could peer out. He was at it again. There he was, brazenly immodest in checked red black pajamas, sitting on his front steps, knees akimbo and binoculars pressed to his eyes” (4). Their dynamic is one of a “peeper and his victim,” and they do not sound like they get along well. There is no visible plot being introduced or developed here, as nothing has happened that could be considered important enough to cause such actions. Now, if that’s compared to a moment after the bomb dropped, one would see a great difference to what has already been established. A few days after The Day, everyone is completely changed mentally, “On this, the third day after The Day, the character of Fort Repose had changed. Every building still stood, no brick had been displaced, yet all was altered, especially the people. Earlier Randy has noticed that some of the plate-glass store windows had cracked under the shock waves from stamps and Orlando…There was no commerce. There were few people. Altogether, Randy saw only four or five cars in motion” (153). People were no longer polluting the streets, instead quite the opposite, remaining wherever they would be safest. There is now a huge sense of fear