Editorial
We hope you enjoy the Lent edition of The Pilot in which we have tried to curate a selection of the best work from as broad a range of academic disciplines as possible. We’re particularly excited to showcase some of the outstanding pieces of work produced across the age range in response to Francophonie Day on 20th March. Francophonie Day is a festival designed to celebrate and promote music, art, literature and traditions from French-speaking countries around the world This year’s theme was ‘Notre Planete’/’L’Environnement’ and we are proud to be able to reproduce a small selection of the work that our students created in response to the festival Thank you to Ms Megnin for introducing this celebration to Chigwell Once again, extra special thanks to Mr Edwin Aitken for his invaluable help with curating of the art pieces. The citations from some academic works have been removed, but a full set of references is available on request.
CONTENTS
FRONT COVER: EMAN SHEIKH
2. EDITORIAL
3. ATLANTIS: TRUTH OR TALE ANYA LESTER
5. BLUE FIGURE LUCA CAPRAR
6. ARTICULATION: FRANK AUERBACH JAMES HOLMES
9 HIGH ACHIEVERS ART AVA WILLIAMS
10. FRANCOPHONIE CHINEMELUM NZEKWE
11. NOTRE PLANETE AARAV BAXI
12. FRANCOPHONIE NOAH HOVELL
13. RA SUMMER PRIZE FREYA FIELDING
14. EPQ: ECONOMIC IMPACT OF REMOTE WORK RAYAAN HUSSAIN
24. METEORITE JOSH GOSLING
24. FPQ ON EXOPLANETS JACKSON RILEY BARRATT
28. UCL DESIGN COMPETITION SUBAANGI SUTHAKARAN
29. Réquiem por un Campesino Español TOM REA
31. HIGH ACHIEVERS ART HELENA SMITH
31. INTERNATIONAL MATH EMATICS MODELLING CHALLENGE TEODOR GABEL
In her recent FPQ submission, Anya explored the story of Atlantis.
Atlantis, Truth or Tale?
The story of Atlantis comes from the Greek philosopher Plato in his works, Timaeus and Critias, written 360 BC. He described Atlantis as a rich, powerful island, larger than Libya and Turkey combined, with grand palaces, advanced technology and a powerful army and navy. However, after becoming greedy and trying to conquer Athens, Atlantis was swallowed by the sea in a single day and night. For two thousand years, people thought it was just a tale. But following Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which popularised Atlantis, and the discovery of the lost city of Troy in 1871, people started to imagine that Atlantis might be real (Kurtti, 2001).
In this essay, we will explore the first major thesis that Atlantis was real and based in the Azores. Next, we shall review the idea that Atlantis was actually the Minoan civilisation on the Island of Thera. Finally, we will examine the theory that Atlantis just represents a lost civilisation. For each theory, we will review the arguments for and against to determine if Atlantis is true or a tale.
In 1882, Ignatius Donnelly was the first major figure to present a detailed theory that Plato’s story of Atlantis was real. He argued that Plato’s description was detailed, consistent with the features of other ancient civilisations, originated from reliable ancient Egyptian chroniclers, and corroborated by other ancient Egyptian texts that mentioned a great continent beyond the Atlantic (Donnelly, 1882). He also presents his view that diverse lands in South America and North Africa shared common Pyramid designs, animals, flowers, and cultural artefacts, which could not have developed independently and so must have come from a lost civilisation. Donnelly placed Atlantis in the Azores in the mid-Atlantic. On the surface there were similarities between the Azores and Atlantis: both had active cold and hot springs, they were rich in black rock for architecture, and Azores sat atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an obvious source of seismic activity to sink Atlantis.
While Donnelly’s theory sounded plausible at the time, modern studies have since undermined many of his ideas. In 1917, geologists scanned the Atlantic seabed and concluded “there are no known geologic data that prove or even help to prove the existence of Plato’s Atlantis in historic times” (Schuchert, 1917). Science also revealed that common animals and plants resulted from migration when our continents were one landmass. In addition, historians cast doubt on the truth of the story, showing Atlantis does not feature in any artwork or writings from Plato’s time (Blakemore, 2023), which shows it was not widely known. Meanwhile, the major battle between Atlantis and Athens, which ended in a victory for Athens, is not recorded. As K. Feder remarked, it is highly improbable “that there would be no mention of a great military victory by ancient Athens...in the works of Greek historians” (Defant, 2023). This evidence undermines Donnelly’s location for Atlantis, but the lack of evidence for Atlantis still leaves open the possibility it may exist somewhere. Many alternative locations for Atlantis have since emerged, but the most credible alternative is Thera, a small island near Crete, that was home to the Minoan civilisation. When looking at Thera, archeologists discovered that a massive volcanic eruption destroyed most of the island in 1500 BC (Kurtti, 2021). This immediately drew parallels with the sudden destruction of
Atlantis. Thera experts then pointed to the many similarities between the Minoans and Plato’s Atlantis. The Minoans were a wealthy and advanced trading nation with a large navy; their architecture was advanced with evidence of multi-story buildings and frescoes; and their towns were circular in design in a similar way to the city of Atlantis (Thera Foundation, 2023).
However, it does seem unlikely that Thera could be the actual Atlantis. Firstly, despite the similarities, several physical features simply do not appear consistent. Atlantis was larger than Libya and Asia (Turkey) combined, which would have been many times bigger than Thera (Castleden 1998). Also, while Atlantis completely sank, a significant part of Thera is visible and Minoan civilisation continued for at least two hundred years after the eruption. Secondly, the timings of the two civilisations do not match. Atlantis was supposed to have existed in c. 9600 BC, which is almost 8000 years before the Minoans. Greek scientist A.G Galanopoulos and historian K.T Frost suggested that Plato’s timings could have been recorded wrongly or that there was a translation error, as the story passed down orally from ancient Egypt. In my opinion, this explanation is certainly possible, but it is also convenient. It feels as if these experts are choosing to explain away certain aspects of Plato’s story that fail to fit their theory.
Meanwhile, there remains no actual evidence that Thera was Atlantis. All other locations suggested for Atlantis, like the Bermuda Triangle and Antarctica have been proven wrong by scientific analysis (Pruitt, 2023), but the belief in a lost civilisation from around 10000 BC still endures. The most recent proponent is journalist Graham Hancock, in his works Fingerprints of the Gods (1995). He sees subtle evidence of a lost civilisation in ancient structures like Gobekli Tepe in Turkey or the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. He thought that such structures are evidence of a people with advanced knowledge and technology that must have existed at that time.
However, archeologists argue that Gobekli Tepe and the Pyramids only demonstrate early human ingenuity: there is no evidence of a globally advanced civilisation like Atlantis. In the case of Gobekli Tepe, archeologists have discovered no metal tools or other signs of advanced engineering and proved the structure was built by hunter-gatherers with stone tools over hundreds of years (Shermer, 2017). Most academics argue that Graham Hancock is practicing pseudoscience, seeing patterns or connections between different events or artefacts and using them to prove their preferred conclusions and present it in the language of science.
In conclusion, having analysed the main theories and evidence to support the existence of Atlantis and whether it was a true or a tale, I have concluded that the probability of its existence is low. No hard evidence has been found to support Atlantis’ existence. I believe this story was likely invented by Plato to teach others about the dangers of hubris and greed. Whether it might have been inspired by Thera or other events is possible, but something we cannot prove. Sadly, we may never know, as Plato, the only person who we could ask, died with the mystery of Atlantis still untold.
ANYA LESTER IVTH FORM
Year 12 student, James, participated in Articulation, a competition run by the National Gallery, which encourages pupils to develop their ideas about a piece of art of their choice.
Frank Auerbach was a German British painter who, in my opinion focused above all else on capturing the soul of his sitters by going beyond the surface level characteristics of a person and instead looking deeper into their psychological being. Here is one of his artworks - Self Portrait 1958, that in my opinion expresses this sentiment. Made from charcoal on paper is sized 77.2x56.5cm, this drawing was exhibited at the Courtauld gallery in London in February 2024 in an exhibition, The Charcoal Heads, and has since left a lasting impression on me. In my opinion, this piece is an incredibly impressive feat of art that encourages me to question who I am, who I was, and who might I become?
To give a brief background of the era in which this portrait was created, 1950’s Britain was a decade characterized by dramatic transformations in society determinedly led by a post-war ethos. The lack of opportunity for artistic expression during the war left a blank canvas that allowed never-beforeseen styles of art to emerge and dominate. The newfound sense of freedom among the nation encouraged many of these emerging artists to push the boundaries of what art had been traditionally, expressing these feelings in colorful, chaotic and completely original forms. Here we see the styles of abstract expressionism and pop art. Despite these innovations that would go on to define the 50’s and the decades that would succeed it, at the age of 27, Auerbach himself and his style would remain completely unperturbed by these trends in art; instead committing himself to a militant form of artistry primarily characterized by his arduous methods of developing his pieces.
Aurbach’s unique process is primarily characterized by his fraught and physical application of the charcoal as he repeatedly adds and removes from the piece, spending day after day re-working and obsessively refining until he reaches what he feels to be a moment of truth. He continues relentlessly on his journey searching ever deeper to unravel the true meaning of self in this work. While these painting mannerisms have always been known as Aurbach’s ‘style’ it seems that these choices were more born under the dissatisfaction of his paintings as an accurate reflection of his sitter rather than any artistic intention. In 2001 he stated, “If you pass something every day and it has a little character, it begins to intrigue you." This statement presents the value that Auerbach holds in his subjects, having his process dictate his desire to capture their ever-evolving beauty. Bearing this in mind, it’s difficult to say that the artists frustration in his work does not in any way benefit the quality of the piece itself, in that it seems his own internal dedication to his sitter indirectly elevates the external visual Prescence of his work, with the secret to his success lying in the relationship between him and his subject.
As a result of this devotion to his art, some of Auerbach's paintings and drawings could take months or even years to complete. The sitters for his portraits, many of which were his close friends would return day after day, year after year. whilst he documents different aspects of their character that he discovered by spending more time with them. Each one of these days’ snapshot remains present in the final product as a remnant of material hidden under the many layers of the finished portrait. Personally, I believe that Auerbach's Paintings are a statement of loyalty and appreciation for his subjects. The intensity of the work reflects this. In bringing the past into the present, layers upon layers of different moments caught in time must work in union to portray the single truthful essence of this character.
I would like to bring you back to his charcoal self-portrait. This figure seems to have no distinct outline or silhouette, not only commends the artists use of Chiaroscuro, cleverly using light and dark elements to create contrast, but also pictures the figure in a way that it seems to fade into the shadows of the background, leaving only certain shapes distinguishable through the darkness. Indistinct features, tears and scratches give us a sense of the passing of time in that you could imagine that this figure, much like the paper they sit on, is slowly being worn away in its complete stillness. Yet in its seeming inactivity, there is still somehow a sense of agency present from this figure. Blurry marks and smudges of the charcoal suggest a lack of restraint or patience from the drawing that could imply movement, forcing the artist to work quickly in order to capture a fleeting moment, perhaps from a sudden flicker of light amongst the darkness. These same tears and scratches portray a fiery intensity in the artists’ agonizingly repetitive process, like wounds that must be bandaged indicative of both action and motion, almost as if the absence of what is not there or that that is taken away seems to be just as meaningful as what still manifests clearly in the work. This strange juxtaposition is only one of many present in the piece. The piece is truly moving and holds an omnipresence quality, something not tangible.
The aforementioned lengthy process of Auerbach's method creates an apparent conflict between the figure’s own past and present self. Both still lie next to each other on the paper continuously battling for dominance. Blended together, multiple versions of the same face at different moments in time could display an agony felt by this figure. Unsuccessful attempts to erase parts of the drawing, perhaps in shame, hint at Auerbach’s own struggle with something more existential, weighed down by every day, every version of himself that came before it that he is unable unburden himself from. But could this overlap not also present relief and growth visible in the perpetual smoothing of each mark in every days work representative of the learning of previous mistakes and solidification of one's character that this process might entail. To me the piece speaks of sadness and hope. Auerbach eyes sunken in dark shadows he stares out at us statuesque and light within the piece touches him and us as viewers. Is this not Aurbach’s reason for his process when working in the first place? Ever evolving and refining each day until the piece has grown and himself learnt? Might Aurbach’s recurring conflict that he creates in his work not reflect in his own struggle with this drawing between his artistic intentions vs his process that elevates his artwork through a form of method in madness and chaos in creation?
Perhaps we could learn more about the reasoning for this by exploring Aurbach’s own past. He was the son of successful lawyer Max Aurbach and trained artist Charlotte Nora Borchardt (Boh Harrt).
Living in Berlin, Germany as a child, Aurbach was present during a time of Nazi regime, who ordered for the persecution and elimination of Jews such as himself and his parents. Subsequently Auerbach was sent to Britain on the Kindertransport (a rescue effort that saved over 10.000 Jewish children from an area of nazi control.) Unfortunately, his parents would stay in Germany, being killed in Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942 when Frank was just 11. In moving to England, the artist obtained an opportunity to reinvent himself in St Martain’s School of art and the R oyal college of art, where he was able to foster his passion for art helping him to overcome the burden of the pains of his past, with his anguish being transformed into his accomplishment as a great artist. Since, Aurbach has been known for his introverted nature but industrious work ethic, giving himself only a one-day break from working on his art every year as a means of self-discipline, perhaps hardened from this challenging childhood. Reinforcing this, even the artist’s own studio in some way resembles a factory of sorts, that's mess reflects his seemingly unhealthy fixation on his work and the damage to his psyche these events might have caused.
Returning back to this piece, what might intrigue me most about this artwork above all goes beyond any visual component but is instead the title. Self- Portrait –1958. This is Aurbach’s most pure interpretation of himself, and more specifically his mental state. Perhaps the seemingly endless conflicts presented in this piece might give us a rare insight into the conflicts of his own mind fueled by his rough upbringing, and ruthless working hours. Perhaps his work’s continuous grapple with time might inform us on the artist’s own complex relationship with his childhood. Both wishing to stay connected to his roots in Berlin with his parents yet equally valuing the importance of moving on to the next day, the next variation of his own person, even if this means taking one step further away from his younger self. Auerbach commented of his work, ‘to paint the same head over and over leads to unfamiliarity. Eventually, you get near the raw truth about it.’ In this case Aurbach discovers himself, in visualizing his trauma by his own hand, he is reclaiming and rewriting the moments from his narrative in which he was not in control, now from his own terms.
I am deeply moved by his work, and I believe it is successful in capturing the flawed yet pure essence of humanity. So, what could we learn from this piece? I believe this artists work here should be a lesson for us all to appreciate the little things in life that make us unique, for there is quality in detail. If this piece has shown me anything, it’s that the mind can be a confusing place, so it’s our job to nurture and care for it. Learning about Aurbach had me reflect on my own past, and taught me that, no matter how embarrassing or different they might be to us now, the only way to truly be at peace with our current selves, is to recognize and celebrate all that came before it.
Since Frank Aurbach died on the 11th of November 2024, multiple art critics have commented on the great loss that this event has caused the art community. To this I say, Auerbach’s pieces could take years to finish. Each day we know some things were taken away from this piece, and some were added, but it has never stopped growing. You may think that this piece is finished. But can an artwork ever be truly finished? I would argue no, and that a piece as powerful as this transcends the boundaries of time and now lies with us, preserving Aurbach’s legacy by teaching us to question and reflect on our own lives. While this great artist is not with us anymore today, his efforts to inspire and educate have certainly not been lost, here in his work as an ode to humanity.
JAMES HOLMES LVI
La Journée Internationale de la Francophonie, celebrated every March 20, is a day dedicated to promoting the French language and the cultural diversity of Francophone countries.
This year, the theme of the celebration was "La Protection de Notre Planète," a topic that strongly aligns with Chigwell School's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Students from Years 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 came together to mark this special day with a series of creative and enriching activities. Year 6 and 7 students designed beautiful posters illustrating French words related to the environment, such as "trees" (arbres), "birds" (oiseaux), "recycling" (recyclage), "rivers" (rivières), and "sun" (soleil) and many more. Meanwhile, some Year 9 students showcased their artistic talents by creating stunning paintings and drawings inspired by nature. Year 8 students composed their own poems, while Year 10 and 12 students prepared debates on environmental topics; students then proudly showcased their work, sharing their creativity and insights to other students during a special assembly.
Bonjour de la belle nature !
Ici, tout est beau : les forêts verdoyantes, l'air pur et les rivières cristallines. Cela me rappelle à quel point il est important de préserver notre environnement. Nous devons tous agir pour réduire la pollution, protéger la biodiversité et lutter contre le réchauffement climatique. Mais malheureusement, la biodiversité est menacée et le changement climatique s'accélère. Nous luttons contre la pollution et la déforestation. Les énergies renouvelables, comme l'énergie solaire et éolienne, sont des solutions incroyables pour un avenir durable. N'oublions pas de recycler nos déchets, d'économiser l'eau et de réduire notre consommation de plastique. Les efforts pour protéger la faune et la flore sont cruciaux pour maintenir la biodiversité et assurer la santé des écosystèmes du monde entier.
Chaque petit geste compte pour protéger cette belle planète que nous partageons tous. � � À bientôt,
Greetings from the Beautiful Nature!
Here, everything is stunning - the lush green forests, the pure air, and the crystal-clear rivers. It reminds me just how important it is to preserve our environment. We all need to take action to reduce pollution, protect biodiversity, and fight climate change. But unfortunately, biodiversity is under threat, and climate change is accelerating. We are battling pollution and deforestation.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are incredible solutions for a sustainable future. Let’s not forget to recycle our waste, save water, and reduce our plastic consumption. Efforts to protect wildlife and plant life are crucial to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the health of ecosystems worldwide. Every small action counts in protecting this beautiful planet we all share.
Chinemelum Nzekwe IIIRD FORM
L’environnement c’est important pour tout le monde…
Nous avons besoin d’air frais pour respirer à fond,
Les arbres, la terre et toutes les choses vertes, Nous devons maintenant être tous experts. Les poissons, les océans et la mer
La pollution envahit toute la terre
On ne peut pas laisser les bouteilles en plastique
Le changement climatique est très traumatique
Si on laisse, nous devrons faire quelque chose de drastique
Si nous n’arrêtons pas, les inondations vont être automatiques
The Environment Matters to Everyone
We all need fresh air to breathe deeply, The trees, the land, and all things green, completely. Now is the time to become aware, To protect nature with love and care.
The fish, the oceans, and the sea, Pollution spreads endlessly.
We can't just leave plastic bottles behind, Climate change is harsh and unkind.
If we ignore it, drastic steps we'll need to take, If we don’t stop, floods will rise in nature’s wake.
Noah Hovell IVTH FORM
In his EPQ, Rayaan investigated the impact of remote working on the City.
Have the impacts of remote working had positive or negative socioeconomic effects on London’s city centre and surrounding areas?
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about dramatic shifts in workplace norms and practices and has transformed the way people work on a day-to-day basis. Following the government’s announcement to the UK on the 23rd of March 2020 to stay at home, schools, businesses and offices became empty as the UK population shifted to remote working (Government, 2024). Remote working is defined as the practice of an employee working at their home, or in some other place that is not an organization’s usual place of business (Cambridge Dictionary, 2024). Four years later, the practice of hybrid working has become more predominant, where employers work from a variety of locations, usually split between the office and home (Cambridge Dictionary, 2024). Even in the 18th century, working from home was not uncommon; the manufacturing of common items such as dresses, and shoes often took place in peoples’ homes (The Economist , 2020). Remote working across Europe had been steadily on the rise during the decade before the pandemic. In 2009, 5% of employees worked from home occasionally and this further increased to 9% in 2019 (Gillen, 2023, p. 8). This growth was predominantly among part-time and self-employed workers which reflects the gradual shift which has been taking place towards flexible working. Building on this steady increase, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift that was already taking place and led to changes such as people adopting more flexible working patterns. The shift to remote working had major geographical and economic impacts on London and the surrounding area. This essay aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of remote working on London’s economy, urban land use, and the environmental changes which occurred as a result of this shift. Furthermore, this essay will evaluate the socioeconomic consequences of remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on how the shift exacerbated inequality between the rich and poor in London and surrounding areas. Overall, this essay will delve into the implications of remote working by analysing shifts in economic activity, changes in urban land use, and environmental outcomes in London and surrounding areas.
As a result of an increase in remote and hybrid working lifestyles, businesses, and most commonly large corporations have begun to scale down office capacities and many big firms have begun to relocate to smaller offices. An example of this is HSBC which is moving out of its Canary Wharf tower within the next year intending to reduce its office space by 40% postpandemic, to cut costs (Sweney, 2023). In addition, the law firm Clifford Chance plans to return to the City of London area and leave its Canary Wharf office by 2028 with a vision to cut down its office space (Goss, 2022). This means that large firms will be saving millions of pounds annually resulting in increased profits. This trend is not isolated to these two firms as many firms have plans to relocate to smaller offices in the long term to scale down their office space. The relocation for HSBC allows them to have a “flexible headquarters”, meaning they can scale up and down their office space, leading to increased cost efficiency. HSBC’s boss, Noel Quinn has embraced hybrid working and like many other CEOs around the wo rld has decided “he will no longer come into work five days a week” as office spaces have now changed. He described the previous office arrangement as a “waste of real estate” (BBC News, 2021). As cost savings have increased as a result of hybrid working, this allows for many firms to increase their investments in technology and capital and consequently increase their
operational efficiency and improve long-term productivity. According to a report by McKinsey and Company, firms which invest in their technology are more likely to face higher levels of productivity, through innovation (Mckinsey and Company, 2021, pp. 50- 55). An increase in firm productivity across the UK will lead to an increase in profits for firms, lower prices for consumers and higher wages for workers. Overall, cost savings for firms have positive benefits for London’s economy due to increased UK productivity. However, while this is all evident, the viewpoint of local businesses must be explored so that we can truly understand the implications of COVID-19 on different businesses and groups of people.
This essay has so far focused on the positive effects that have affected professional services firms however, the entertainment and hospitality sectors have been affected significantly by the shift to remote working. There has been a sharp decline in footfall in Canary Wharf, where the UK’s financial centre is located, but also where a large number of shops, restaurants and cafés rely on office workers as their main customer base who take breaks during lunch. Pret a Manger, a London -based café chain, is an example of a firm which has been significantly affected by remote working. Pret reported a 74% fall in sales across the UK in 2020, largely due to a decline in footfall of office workers. This also resulted in the closure of a number of branches across the UK, many of which were in London (Pret A Manger , 2021). Four years after the pandemic, demand still fluctuates for these services, depending on what day and time it is. Data shows that four in ten Londoners have switched to hybrid working permanently and 19% of workers solely work from home which means that the impacts of remote working on local businesses near offices will be permanent. There is evidence to suggest that many office workers are working in the office two to three days a week and compared to pre-pandemic levels, offices are ‘half as busy’ as they were in February 2020 (BBC, 2023)
(BBC, 2023)
The graph above illustrates this new trend towards a three- day week, and the general pattern shows that in 2020, the majority of people 2020 were working all 5 days a week however, post lockdown, in 2023, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the most popular days to go to work and Friday being the least popular with on average only 14% of staff being in the office in 2023. This significant reduction in people going to the office has also led to inevitable
changes in demand for dry cleaning services, another example of a service industry which has faced difficulties in attracting customers. Working from home has meant that people have adapted their clothing choices from suits and ties to casual loungewear, resulting in numerous closures of dry cleaners (CPA Practice Advisor, 2021). Due to lower demand for these services, businesses across the UK have had to cut down their staff which has had an increase in unemployment figures. Initially, in 2020, unemployment rose to a peak of 1.77 million in October to December 2020 (5.3%), It is important to note that people who were on the furlough scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic were not included in the UK government figures and therefore the unemployment figures published by the government do not include these individuals (House of Commons Library, 2022). However, the post-pandemic recovery has been strong and unemployment rates fell across the country and in London to 3.6% in June – August 2022. It has been fluctuating since the recovery at around the 4% mark. The graph below shows that the unemployment rate has been fluctuating at around 4% after the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is close to what it was pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This illustrates the recovery stages from the pandemic and signifies the return to normality following a period of economic tu rmoil (Office for National Statistics , 2024).
(Office for National Statistics , 2024)
Due to the government’s instructions to stay at home, there were a large number of impacts on London’s economy as well as the wider UK economy. Due to the decline in footfall, economic growth in the UK, and London fell exponentially during the pandemic. According to data, GDP fell by 13% in London in 2020 and like much of the UK, the London economy experienced a recession during the pandemic, where GDP fell for two consecutive quarters (Statista , 2024) (Glaeconomics, 2020). Job losses, as a result of business closures also led to reduced consumer spending which also fuelled closure of businesses and a further slowdown in economic activity. Aggregate demand is the total amount of goods demanded in the economy at a given time and price level (Tutor 2u, 2024). In macroeconomic terms, consumption contributes to 65% of aggregate demand in the UK; consequently, real GDP and economic growth fell as a result of the fall in consumption which would have led to an inwards shift of the aggregate demand. However, the pandemic spurred innovation and investment, such as the growth of remote work software; investment is also a component of aggregate demand and economic prosperity. Firms have been investing in various technologies and industries to boost their productivity levels. A key example of this is the increase in research and development, as well as firms increasing their investment into shifting their databases to the cloud to maximise company efficiency. Mckinsey and Company has produced reports on this type of investment. This aided the economy in a variety of ways during and after the
pandemic where local and national economies became more diversified and resilient (Mckinsey , 2021, pp. 39 -45). This investment helped the economy recover following the recession in 2020 and has played an important role in the UK’s economy. Economic growth in London as well as the UK have been strong and in the second quarter of 2024, the economy grew by 0.6% (Financial Times, 2024). London’s gross value added is forecast to be 1.1% in 2024 and growth is “expected to improve” in the upcoming years (Mayor or London- London Assembly, 2024). Overall, it is clear that the shift to remote work had both positive and negative consequences on the UK economy.
Working from home has inevitably changed how, where and when people work; the way people perceive work has completely changed. As a result of the pandemic, people have reevaluated their priorities in life, which has led to the introduction of hybrid and flexible working patterns where people choose where and when to work based on their other priorities in life. Flexible working has allowed people to prioritise family time, especially for workers with young children; according to LSE professor Carsten Sorenson, working from home makes employees work harder and consequently increases productivity however, mental health issues can arise from these as human beings naturally ‘crave’ social interactions (Dr Grace Lordan, 2022). Despite this increase in flexibility, data shows that people are working an extra 48.5 minutes a day and the number of work emails outside usual business hours has increased by 8% (The Economist , 2020). This increase has led to some inevitable effects on productivity in London and the surrounding area. There is evidence to suggest that workers who work at home are more productive than those who work from the office (Tsipursky, 2021). This is because workers can work according to their schedules and can work in an environment where they are comfortable. Whether productivity in firms increases is a controversial topic amongst employers and bosses. 49% of bosses “struggle to trust their employees to do their best work”. However, there is data to suggest that workers who have completely flexible schedules are 29% more productive and 53% more able to focus when compared to workers with a set schedule to which they must adhere (Tsipursky, 2022) Increased productivity can provide major benefits to London’s economy. It can provide a boost to London’s GDP as the value of goods and services produced increases, which will promote further economic growth in the city as well as nationally. It will also mean there are more job prospects for workers which will help decrease the unemployment rate, a major economic indicator for a country’s economy. Due to the increased flexibility, firms will also be able to hire workers internationally as many office-based job workers can work from anywhere in the world. Consequently, this can increase a firm’s productivity as well as contribute to increased national productivity levels. However, it is important to consider that working from home has removed the social aspect of working, which may negatively impact firms which rely on this in-person networking.
While it is true that productivity levels may increase in some firms, working from home provides challenges for sectors which rely on face-to-face communication and building relationships with people. This can result in decreased productivity for these firms, and it can be challenging for these firms to operate effectively. During the LSEIQ podcast ‘Has COVID Killed the Office’, much was said about how social interactions, especially for new members of a team, can be very difficult when conducting meetings remotely (LSEIQ, 2022). Dr Grace Lordan discussed the importance of interactions within a team and brought up how once a functioning team can fall apart and lose motivation, consequently negatively impacting a
team’s operations (Dr Grace Lordan, 2022). Remote working also led to a 25% increase in diagnosed mental health issues in 2020 and 2021 (Nicola Gillen, 2023). On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest that working in an office can also increase mental health issues. Consequently, if the number of mental health issues rises, it will negatively impact productivity in a firm. Studies have found that people who are going through significant life changes, for example, young people entering higher education and people starting parenthood, rely on human interactions as a source of “psychological resilience” that helps them transition through these significant life changes. Therefore, when remote working was introduced, this increased the number of mental health issues among these groups to an alltime high, as colleges and places of work are places where social interactions often take place (Jetten, 2020, pp. 70- 75). Moving forward, adopting a strategy which accounts for both positive and negative socioeconomic impacts has been introduced: hybrid working: a model which takes advantage of the benefits of remote working while also maintaining the social interactions that occur in the office. In London, many workers work on average 2- 3 days a week, indicating that hybrid working is the most common practice due to its balance between maintaining the productivity needed while also allowing for essential human interactions within firms to keep mental health cases low (Swinney, 2023)
The shift to remote working led to a large amount of urban change, both in Greater London and the surrounding suburban areas. As mentioned so far, hybrid working thus far has meant that there has been a significant reduction in the number of people commuting to work on a daily basis. Furthermore, due to the lockdown restrictions imposed by the UK government, many people were forced to stay at home, and this made many city residents understand the benefits of having a garden. Consequently, this led to suburbanisation which is the outward growth of urban developments which may engulf surrounding towns and villages (Cool Geography , 2024). Many city residents, in search of cheaper, larger and more green places to live relocated to the suburbs. Before the pandemic, urbanisation was taking place rapidly in the UK however, the pandemic altered this urban change. Due to the introduction of flexible working, many people have been living further away from the workplace in search of more spacious and affordable homes in the suburbs leading to the deurbanization trend. Between mid-2020 and mid- 2021, the suburban population in the UK increased by 242,000 and there is plenty of evidence to show that urbanisation reversed during the first year of the pandemic, however, urbanisation since then has been on the rise (Lange, 2024)
(Lange, 2024)
The graph demonstrates these changes in demand for urban and suburban lifestyles. During the pandemic, the demand for urban lifestyles dropped, and suburban demand went up due to the availability of space and higher quality of life during the pandemic. The movement of people during the pandemic had an effect on the housing market. Both in the rental market and the buying market, property values in central London decreased during 2021 as demand in the suburbs such as Harrow and Redbridge skyrocketed. April 2021 was the lowest point with prices in the rental market falling 22.1% year on year while rents in outer London were increasing by 3.5%. Property values in Harrow and Redbridge increased by 8.7% and 8.0% respectively as a result of increased demand for larger properties in these areas. Tom Hawkins, Head of Residential Development Central London spoke about these shifts in demand and explained that “people want several bedrooms, outside space and access to good facilities and views over parks and garden squares” (Hamptons , 2022). The vacancy rate also rose in London during the pandemic and land use in Central London is still changing, as discussed earlier in Canary Wharf. Urbanisation has now however picked up and property prices have begun to pick up again in Central London. However, not all urban change has been temporary. Many areas in London have experienced urban land use changes which will be permanent following the pandemic and the adoption of working from home. This is particularly true in Canary Wharf where the land use of the area is changing from office-based industries to recreational and residential. We have seen already that many firms such as HSBC are moving out of the financial district. There are many initiatives by local councils and local governments to solve the current housing crisis by converting commercial buildings and office blocks into residential buildings. There is currently the equivalent of sixty Gherkins unoccupied and office space vacancy is the highest it has been in fifteen years. The City of London council currently has plans to build 1500 residential properties by 2030 to meet high demand in London (Dunsby, 2022). This is a vital plan which will help reduce the housing crisis burden that London is currently facing due to the high demand and low supply. Therefore, the building of new properties will have positive economic impacts on young people and locals as it will provide modern housing. It will also further boost economic activity in the area which has been declining since the shift to working from home. There has also been a shift in land use in the financial district. The HSBC Tower in Canary Wharf will be transformed into a mixed-use building which will include leisure facilities, rooftop terraces and public viewing galleries (Lawson, 2024). This is an example of a transformational process which will take place following the exit of the banking firm. It may also be used for residential purposes in the future which will help solve the housing crisis.
The picture below shows the proposed conversion plan for the iconic HSBC building and is an example of how the shift to remote working is leading to changes in land use in London
Generally, this urban transformation process is a result of the shift to remote work, demonstrating the positive socioeconomic benefits that result from the changes in land use. The multiplier effect occurs when an initial injection into the circular flow causes a bigger final increase in real national income (Tutor2u, 2024). The transformation of space from commercial to residential will bring new residents as well as tourists and visitors which will boost London’s economy as the multiplier effect will come into force in these redesigned areas, which will further improve the social quality of life for individuals who will live in these areas in the future. It is evident the shift to remote working resulted in changes in land use; while initially many would have perceived these to be negative, these changes have been positive and allowed London’s economy and land usage to adapt to the evolving economic climate.
There has also been a major environmental benefit which has resulted from the shift to remote working. Due to the lockdown restrictions, many people were forced to work from home, and this significantly reduced the carbon emissions being emitted into the atmosphere because a large proportion of people were no longer driving into their place of work. Approximately 70% of people drive to work globally however, in London, this percentage is significantly lower at 27% in 2021. A large proportion of Londoners use public transportation for daily commutes (UK Government , 2022). Consequently, when the concept of remote working was introduced, this led to a steep decline in passenger numbers using Transport for London’s services. This resulted in reduced profits which led to TfL having to rely on emergency funding. However, since restrictions were lifted on the 19th of January 2022, TFL has made a steady recovery. By early 2022, ridership levels were at 60% of pre-pandemic levels (Transport for London, 2022). By the end of 2023, ridership has exceeded four million journeys, the highest since the pandemic. This recovery is an indicator that London’s transport economy is recovering and is returning to pre-pandemic levels, and this can also be backed by the recent economic growth which has been taking place in London and the UK in the early parts of 2024. The shift to remote working has led to shifts in commuting patterns. Due to the changes in the working world, the introduction of hybrid working and the way the working week is structured, public transportation services for commuting services will mainly be used on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as the majority of city workers commute to the city on these days. Generally, the shift to remote working resulted in changes in commuting patterns, which will be reflected in TFL’s profits regardless, the transport industry in London has made a strong recovery following the pandemic.
This essay has so far explored a variety of socioeconomic effects, both positive and negative and how the implications of remote working impacted different demographics of people and their everyday lives. The shift to remote working also led to significant changes in the level of social and economic inequality, both within London and its surrounding areas. This inequality can be presented in a wide range of forms, from housing to education however, the shift to remote working acted as a catalyst for the already rising economic inequality in London before the COVID-19 pandemic. While many office-based workers were able to switch to remote-based work using online technology, 43% of Londoners said they were unable to work at home, and due to the closing down of the hospitality sector, many workers in this industry were placed on the furlough scheme (Harris, 2022). The furlough scheme in the UK was introduced during the pandemic to provide grants to employers so that workers who were employed in service-based industries could continue to be paid up to 80% of their wages
(Brigid Francis-Devine, 2021). Due to this reduction in wages for many individuals, especially those in the hospitality sector, income inequality was exacerbated during the pandemic as the gap between the rich and poor grew. In addition, due to the decline in footfall in areas in the city, the fall in customers for businesses also had significant impacts on business owners as they were no longer earning a stable source of income. Many businesses had to close down during the pandemic which also increased the unemployment rate in London. The rise in unemployment will also have fuelled the inequality present in the city and will have put increased pressure on the government to provide welfare benefits. During 2020, there were 332,620 business closures across the country with London being o ne of the worst-hit areas in the country (ONS, 2021). Generally, there is a clear trend that those workers on high incomes tend to work from home more often or tend to adopt a hybrid style of working whereas those on the lowest incomes of less than £15,000 tend to go into the workplace more, often because their industry does not allow them to work from home (Strauss, 2022). Consequently, when the lockdown was introduced, those people on lower incomes had no choice but to remain jobless, increasing income inequality. Remote working arrangements have benefitted highpaid workers more than they benefitted those in more service and hospitality-based jobs, hence fuelling the inequality as the rich tend to get richer, even through the challenges of the pandemic, whereas those on low incomes remain on low incomes.
While it is evident that the shift to remote working fuelled the pre-existing economic inequalities in London, it also revealed new social disparities within the working world. These include widening the disparities in accessing housing, office equipment and mental health resources. The shift to remote working meant that workers were required to use their own office equipment, such as laptops and reliable internet- while this was an option for wealthier households, 17 million disadvantaged households were not able to get online and, therefore, were excluded from remote work (Digital Poverty Alliance, 2021). This exclusion, alongside overcrowded living conditions, contributed to lower productivity levels and also negatively impacted income. In addition to this, social inequality increased in the form of increased mental health issues in this demographic due to the lack of interaction and open space to relax outside of working hours. Young people were also victims of this social inequality; due to the soaring prices of housing in the suburbs as a result of remote working, this demographic would have been priced out of buying homes. Over the past 20 years, the number of young adults still living with their parents has gone up from 2.4 million in 2002 to 3.4 million in 2022 (UK Government, 2024). Additionally, remote work limited opportunities for career advancement and networking, especially for younger professionals or those from marginalised backgrounds. The absence of these interactions in remote settings slowed personal growth, disproportionately affecting those already at a disadvantage. Overall, younger people feel more concerned than senior professionals due to a lack of selfconfidence and mentorship (Ward, 2021). Generally, the impacts of working from home fuelled the social inequality in London, which was already on the rise before the pandemic. Without effective policies and mitigation strategies, it is clear that this inequality will continue to rise and that the true impacts of COVID-19 on this inequality are yet to be witnessed, such as intergenerational inequality in the future.
This essay has examined the complex range of socioeconomic effects, both positive and negative, which have occurred as a result of the shift to remote working. This essay has explored how these consequences have impacted a wide range of demographics,
corporations, and the London economy. While some industries and groups of people have benefitted, the negative consequences have been disproportionately borne by the younger demographic and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. On the one hand, the shift to remote working has had positive effects because it has increased the efficiency of large firms, such as HSBC, and the shift to remote working has eliminated the cost of leasing office space, therefore reducing costs for businesses and maximising profits. In addition, the level of investment, especially in research and development by these large corporations, has also increased, and it is clear that large firms have adapted their business model to work around the remote and hybrid working models. Firms have also increased their productivity levels, further boosting profits. In addition to this, remote and hybrid working models have allowed for improved work-life balance for people who have a number of different priorities in their lives. Overall, the shift to remote working has generally had positive impacts on these sectors and the older working population. However, the younger demographic has borne the brunt of the negative effects. The rise in mental health issues, exacerbated by isolation and lack of social interaction, has had a particularly negative impact on this demographic. Furthermore, the rise in income inequality and social inequality in housing has negatively impacted young people’s opportunities due to the lack of affordable housing and the increase in the wealth gap. In addition to this, a large number of businesses struggled during the pandemic, many of which closed down as a result of the restrictions on people. Overall, the country is still recovering from the most economically and socially challenging global pandemic and the government, policymakers, economists and social scientists must look to the future and learn from the mistakes that were made during the pandemic to continue the recovery following the pandemic. Moreover, there must continue to be research into the long-term impacts on mental health, productivity and economic stability to fully understand the effects of the pandemic on society and the economy. Only through a clear understanding of the issue can a recovery plan be implemented to address the rising housing and educational inequalities across the city.
Remote Working Survey Chigwell
In his FPQ, Jackson considers whether exoplanets might be able to help us in the future.
Is It Possible for Exoplanets to Hold Life?
With billions of stars in the milky way and many more planets orbiting them, it is natural to ask the question; could life exist on exoplanets?
What is an Exoplanet?
An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than our Sun. The first confirmed detection of an exoplanet was made in 1992, and since then, thousands have been discovered. Exoplanets vary widely in size, composition, and orbital characteristics, ranging from gas giants larger than Jupiter to rocky planets similar in size to Earth. Terrestrial exoplanets, or rocky planets, are similar to Earth and include those that are predominantly composed of rocks or metals. Gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn, are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. There are also subcategories such as "super-Earths," which are rocky planets larger than Earth, and "mini-Neptunes," which are smaller versions of Neptune.
What do we count as ‘Life’?
Life has many different meanings. On our home planet, life can range from tiny bacteria to a huge elephant. Despite their differences, they all have similar characteristics. They all need water, energy, and chemical elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Scientists believe these ingredients are the building blocks of life. For example, life on Earth depends on liquid water, because it is a solvent. This means that it dissolves substances that are vital for a variety of living cells. It also helps harbour nutrients and energy within living cells.
What Conditions Would an Exoplanet Need to Satisfy in Order to Potentially Have Life?
For an exoplanet to potentially support life, it must meet several key conditions, many of which are the same characteristics that make Earth habitable.
1. Habitable Zone: The habitable zone, also known as the goldilocks zone, is the precise distance from a star to a planet, which prevents the star from being too hot or too cold. This is essential for water as it could freeze if it is too cold or evaporate if it is too hot.
2. Stable Atmosphere: A protective atmosphere is vital for life as it protects the planet from solar radiation. This prevents the planet from heating up to an inhabitable temperature.
3. Magnetic Field: The magnetic field is responsible for protecting the planet and the atmosphere from solar flares, which are discharges from the sun, that could strip away the planet's surface.
4. Chemical Ingredients: the planet should have the following elements and compounds; water, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulphur. These elements are the building blocks for life and help life exist.
How do we find exoplanets?
Finding exoplanets is a challenging task due to their vast distances from Earth and their relatively small size compared to stars. However, astronomers have developed several techniques to detect these distant worlds:
1. Transit Method: This is one of the most successful and widely used methods. It involves monitoring the brightness of a star over time. When an exoplanet passes in front of its host star (a transit), it causes a temporary dip in the star’s brightness. By measuring these dips, scientists can infer the presence of a planet, its size, and its orbital period.
2. Radial Velocity Method: Also known as the Doppler method, this technique detects the gravitational influence of an exoplanet on its host star. As the planet orbits, it causes the star to wobble slightly. This wobble can be detected as shifts in the star’s spectral lines, which are different coloured lines due to the Doppler effect, which is the apparent difference in frequencies that leave the star to the observer.
3. Direct Imaging: This method involves capturing images of exoplanets directly by blocking out the star's light. This is challenging due to the bright glare of the star, but
advancements in technology, such as star shades. This is an object placed in front of a telescope that blocks any light from hitting the lens so the camera can directly image a planet.
How Can We Tell if They Have Signs of Life?
Once an exoplanet is discovered, the next step is to determine if it has signs of life. This involves studying the planet's atmosphere and surface conditions for biosignatures, which are indicators of biological activity.
1. Spectroscopy: Spectroscopy is used to determine what type of gases are in an atmosphere of a planet. To do this, they analyse the light being passed through the atmosphere and can identify the compositions and gases on the planet. For example, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen.
2. Surface Features and Climate: using telescopes, scientists can infer what is on the planet's surface. For example, a body of water and multiple islands.
3. Future Missions: upcoming telescopes and missions, which include the James Webb Telescope and ARIEL mission, are designed to closely observe planets to identify what is on the planet and if it is possible for life to form on them. The James Webb Telescope is already operational and is taking images of the universe, however the ARIEL mission, which stands for Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared exoplanet Large-survey, is set to launch in 2029, and will directly image the planet's surface in detail.
Promising Exoplanets
Promising exoplanets that have been discovered with the help of telescopes like NASA’s Hubble and James Webb telescope, are listed below.
1. Proxima Centauri B: this exoplanet orbits its star, Proxima Centauri, 4.2 light years away. This exoplanet is in its stars habitable zone, however, Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star, which is a cool star that gives off harmful radiation with powerful solar flares
2. Kepler 452B: this exoplanet is often referred to as the ‘second earth’. This exoplanet is located 1400 light years away and orbits the same type of star as us, a G-type main sequence star. It is 60% larger than earth and has an atmosphere which makes it suitable for life.
Conclusion
So, could life exist on exoplanets? The answer is: we do not know. Yet. But the endless possibilities of alien life and what it could look like are exciting. With so many planets just in the Milky Way, and trillions more in the universe, it seems likely that we can’t be alone in the universe, at least statistically. With each new discovery of an exoplanet, it brings us closer to finding the question posed by this essay – is it possible for exoplanets to hold life?
JACKSON RILEY BARRATT IVTH FORM
Subaangi, year 10, entered a UCL competition for innovation, designing an Air Purification system to improve the quality of the air in buildings.
In his recent mock examination Tom explored Réquiem por un Campesino Español by Ramón J Sender
Analiza la importancia de la visita a las cuevas y el impacto que tiene:
Réquiem por un campesino español es una novela escrita por Ramón J Sender en los años cincuenta. Se trata de la historia del bando vencido en la guerra civil española, presentando su lucha por la justicia social como algo heroico. De esta manera, la escena de las cuevas, aunque hay muchos eventos claves en el desarrollo del argumento, juega un papel imprescindible en cuanto al introducir los personajes contrastantes de Paco y Mosén Millán – el dessarollo de la conciencia social y la buena voluntad en Paco, en comparación con la falta de simpatía del cura.
Primero, es relevante que notemos el hecho de que esta escena destaca del tema de la desigualdad socio-económica. Esta escena transcurre cuando Mosén Millán lleva a Paco para dar la extremaunción a una pareja vieja que vive en las cuevas. Desde el principio, Sender hace hincapié de su extrema pobreza, a través de su entorno, que tiene ‘un techo de roca’ y la ropa de la mujer quién está ‘vestida de harapos.’ Por lo tanto, la visita a las cuevas es crucial ya que revela el hecho de que la injusticia social es un problema graves en la novela y en la sociedad en que vivía Sender. Este tema se convierte en uno cada vez más perjudicial más tarde en la novela con la introducción de los tres hombres ricos y su deseo de proteger su herencia y tierras sin preocupación por la vida humana. Así, la escena de las cuevas es importantísima porque revela la injusticia social en el pueblo y, de esta manera, presagia el trato impensable de los campesinos desfavorecidos.
Además, la visita a las cuevas es muy importante dado que tiene un impacto profundo en el protagonista del cuento, Paco. Este episodio es clave a su dessarollo como personaje heroico. Eso es porque marca el principio de su creciente conciencia social. Este impacto se ve tanto a través del evento en las cuevas en sí mismo como después del evento. Por ejemplo, Sender presenta a Paco como el héroe socialista de la aldea, como resultado de su decisión de volver a las cuevas por parte de Mosén Millán y ayudar a los campesinos menos afortunados. Además, el impacto de la visita a las cuevas se demuestra de manera manifiesta en su discusión con Don Valeriano sobre los derechos de los campesinos a las tierras en las que trabajan. Esto se puede ver cuando se escribe que ‘lo que los hombres han hecho, lo deshacen creo yo.’ De esta manera, Sender hace clarísimo el hecho de que la creencia de Paco en la justicia social es algo poderosa y sus orígenes se pueden encontrar en la escena de las cuevas. Desafortunadamente, esta lucha está condenada a fracasar dado que es un intento de limitar el poder de las clases altas y terratenientes – Sender deja claro que las palabras de Valeriano son correctas – las leyes que fomentan su poder y lo del duque ‘tiene muchos siglos de usanza Y eso tiene fuerza.’ Al fin y al cabo, por lo tanto, Paco debe ser matado a causa de su naturaleza rebelde, pero mantiene su protección de las clases bajas hasta el último momento, tratando de salvar a los otros campesinos condenados a la muerte, diciendo que ‘no han hecho nada.’ De esta manera, la escena de las cuevas tiene tanta importancia con respecto al desarrollo de Paco: marca el nacimiento de su conciencia social y su lucha por parte de los campesinos pobres pero también, se debe notar que esta lucha es la que resuelta en la
muerte trágica del protagonista y, consiguiente, la escena de las cuevas es un momento que decide el destino de Paco, haciéndola, hasta cierto punto, la más importante de la novela. Dicho eso, la lucha de Paco por la justicia social es algo muy positivo y se debe celebrar, según Sender. Por otro lado, se hace muy claro que el comportamiento del cura, Mosén Millán, en la novela es algo repugnante y esto se revela por primera vez durante esta escena. Por ejemplo, el cura demuestra una falta de respeto completa en sus interacciones con la pareja pobre, aun si sus pecados son internalizados. Esto se ve cuando admite que tenía ‘prisa por salir… pero le pareció poca cristiana.’ Así, Sender hace que el lector note la naturaleza quizás perezosa y, por cierto, sin corazón del sacerdote. De hecho, quiere que nos demos cuenta del hecho de que este hombre vea su deber en la comunidad como nada más que un trabajo –no siente ningún tipo de simpatía ni tristeza hacia la situación desesperada del hombre, quien está muriendo, Sender notando que ‘sus estertores eran cada vez más broncos,’ mientras que Mosén Millán trata de ignorar el dolor y el sufrimiento de los campesinos. Esto se relata a través de su diálogo con Paco cuando le dice que ‘las cuevas que has visto son miserables pero las hay peores en otros pueblos’ y que ‘Cuando Dios lo permite… es por algo.’ Este uso de teoría religiosa como excusa nos demuestra la carencia de responsabilidad que tiene este hombre religioso. De hecho, esta falta de responsabilidad se desarrolla a lo largo de la historia con su fracaso de apoyar a Paco – ‘iluso, eres iluso,’ haciendo que Paco no pueda confiar en su ‘padre spiritual.’ Esto se puede observar trágicamente cuando el cura convence al padre de Paco que le revele el escondite de Paco, resultando en su ejecución. Por lo tanto, durante la escena de las cuevas y la novela por lo general, Sender nos presenta Mosén Millán como un hombre que no lleva a cabo sus deberes religiosos durante la visita a las cuevas, haciendo hincapié de su falta de emoción y simpatía. Esto también presagia su debilidad cuando se enfrenta con los hombres ricos y su consiguiente traición del héroe jóven.
En resumen, se puede argumentar que la escena de las cuevas es la más crucial en la novela. Eso es porque revela la diferencia entre el heroísmo de Paco y la cobardía de Mosén Millán en sus interacciones con los menos afortunados – y lo que es más interesante es que este contraste presagia la tragedia al fin de la novela, principalmente como resultado de la continuación de esta cobardía.
Analyse the importance of the visit to the caves and its impact:
‘Requiem for a Spanish Peasant’ is a novel written by Ramón J Sender in the 1950s. It tells the story of the defeated side in the Spanish Civil War, presenting its struggle for social justice as something heroic. In this way, the cave scene, although there are many key events in the development of the plot, plays an essential role in introducing the contrasting characters of Paco and Mosén Millán – the development of social conscience and goodwill in Paco, compared to the lack of sympathy of the priest. Firstly, it is relevant that we note the fact that this scene highlights the issue of socio-economic inequality. This scene takes place when Mosén Millán takes Paco to give the last rites to an old couple who live in the caves. From the beginning, Sender emphasizes their extreme poverty, through their surroundings, which includes 'a roof made of rock' and the clothes of the woman who is 'dressed in rags.' Therefore, the visit to the caves is crucial as it reveals the fact that social injustice is a serious problem in the novel and in the society in which Sender lived. This theme becomes increasingly damaging later in the novel with the introduction of the three rich men and their desire to protect their inheritance and lands with no concern for human life. Thus, the cave
scene is very important because it reveals the social injustice in the village and, in this way, foreshadows the unthinkable treatment of the disadvantaged peasants. In addition, the visit to the caves is very important since it has a profound impact on the protagonist of the story, Paco. This episode is key to his development as a heroic character. This is because it marks the beginning of his growing social consciousness. This impact is seen both through the event in the caves itself and after the event. For example, Sender presents Paco as the socialist hero of the village, as a result of his decision to return to the caves in Mosén Millán absence and help the less fortunate peasants. In addition, the impact of the visit to the caves is manifested in his discussion with Don Valeriano about the rights of peasants to the lands on which they work. This can be seen when it is written that 'what men have done, they can undo, I think.' In this way, Sender makes abundantly clear the fact that Paco's belief in social justice is a powerful thing and its origins can be found in the cave scene. Unfortunately, this struggle is doomed to fail since it is an attempt to limit the power of the upper classes and landowners – Sender makes it clear that Valeriano’s words are correct – the laws that promote his power and the duke's have ‘many centuries of use. And that has strength.' After all, therefore, Paco must be killed because of his rebellious nature, but he maintains his protection of the lower classes until the last moment, trying to save the other peasants condemned to death, saying that they 'have done nothing.' In this way, the cave scene has so much importance with regards to Paco's development: it marks the birth of his social conscience and his struggle on the part of the poor peasants but also, it should be noted that this struggle is the one that results in the tragic death of the protagonist and, consequently, the cave scene is a moment that decides Paco's fate, making it, to a certain extent, the most important of the novel.
Having said this, Paco's fight for social justice is something very positive and should be celebrated, according to Sender. On the other hand, it becomes very clear that the behavior of the priest, Mosén Millán, in the novel is somewhat disgusting and this is revealed for the first time during this scene. For example, the priest demonstrates complete disrespect in his interactions with the poor couple, even if his sins are internalized. This is seen when he admits that he was 'in a hurry to get out... but this seemed to him unchristian.' Thus, Sender makes the reader notice the perhaps lazy and, indeed, heartless nature of the priest. In fact, he wants us to realize the fact that this man sees his duty in the community as nothing more than a job – he feels no sympathy or sadness for the desperate situation of the dying man, Sender noting that 'his death rattles were getting rougher and harsher,' while Mosén Millán tries to ignore the pain and suffering of the peasants. This is recounted through his dialogue with Paco when he tells him that 'the caves you have seen are miserable but there are worse in other towns' and that 'When God allows it... it's for a reason.' This use of religious theory as an excuse shows us the lack of responsibility that this religious man has. In fact, this lack of responsibility plays out throughout the story with his failure to support Paco – 'naïve, you're naïve…'making Paco unable to trust his 'spiritual father.' Tragically, this can be observed when the priest convinces Paco's father to reveal Paco's hiding place to him, resulting in Paco’s execution. Thus, during the cave scene and the novel in general, Sender presents Mosén Millán as a man who does not carry out his religious duties during the visit to the caves, emphasizing his lack of emotion and sympathy. This also foreshadows his weakness when confronted with the rich men and his consequent betrayal of the young hero.
In short, it can be argued that the cave scene is the most crucial in the novel. This is because it reveals the difference between Paco's heroism and Mosén Millán's cowardice in his
interactions with the less fortunate – and what's more interesting is that this contrast foreshadows the tragedy at the end of the novel, mainly as a result of the continuation of this cowardice.
TOM REA, MVIth
Teodor, Karol, Jeremy and Rithun entered the International Mathematical Modelling Challenge (IMMC) Their report can be found as follows.
