In his novel, Dark Star, Alan Furst creates an atmosphere that supports the depressed and beat down setting surrounding Europe before the onset of World War II. He is able to capture our attention by immediately creating anxiety in the depressed and broken down country of Belgium. Furst is able to draw us into the mind of Andre Szara as he enters Ostend, Belgium, describing the atmosphere as unpleasant and anxiety-driven. He presents this atmosphere through the old and rusted freighter, Nicaea, the setting in Ostend, and the assignments that Szara must complete while staying in Ostend.
The thirty year old tugboat, Nicaea, represents an unforeseen road and ultimately places uncertainty in the eyes of Andre Szara. In the beginning, the atmosphere is immediately set with a dark and fearful outlook because of the depiction of the “tramp freighter” (Furst 3) that moves through the water with a distinctive roar of the engine, over powering the sound of clashing waves. The history of the Nicaea identifies the elements used by Furst to display atmosphere. It’s deep description indicates it has spent “blistering summers and drizzling winters” (3) over the years to be ruined by salt and rust. Old age has the ship “[creaking] and [groaning] sorrowfully” (4). The unhealthy environment creates an undesirable atmosphere that makes use of uncertainty as to whether the ship can carry on.
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The weather plays a major role in shaping the atmosphere in Ostend. The weather
can be used effectively when presenting a certain atmosphere because it can dictate the mood. While travelling on the North Sea, Szara and Khelidze were accompanied by “rain” (3) and “darkness” (3), unaware of what lies ahead. With darkness, comes the idea of fear because its leading to the unexpected. The Nicaea has also been at sea for nineteen days through an “eternity of icy, seawater showers” (5). The weather foreshadows a dark future and maintains the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Equally important, Andre Szara is given an assignment but does not know why, further adding to the suspense and obliviousness for any consequences. Szara’s assignment is to find out where his fellow passenger on the tugboat, Grigory Khelidze, is staying in Ostend. Szara has no idea why he must find out where this man is staying, thus creating a sense of bewilderment. It is as if Szara has been set out on to a winding and unforgiving path that leaves no indication or signs as to where it will lead him. Many questions are asked as to why he is given this assignment as because it foreshadows that there is a long road ahead and it may not be the last of his assignments. To further extend the suspense, the man giving the assignment is known as the “World’s Plainest Man” (4). Furst is able to communicate these ideas through the use of atmosphere by his ability to create suspense and anxiety and allow us to wonder what these motives will lead to.
Upon receiving instructions for his next assignment, Szara is frightened because he does not know what to expect. The instructions to meet at a certain place “frightened him” (9) and questions involving his assignment rose with distinctiveness. The atmosphere creates possibility; the possibility of Szara dealing with the wrong people and
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ending up dead in a dark and deserted alley. As the readers, we feel his fear and, like him, are unable to see where or what this situation will lead to. Thoughts of running went through Szara‘s mind because of the amount of uncertainty he faced. “Fly for your life” (9) he thought because things like this always worked out to an unpleasant ending. The original “small favor” (9) is growing into something beyond his control and is now part of the secrecy within a spy agency because of the knowledge he obtains doing these assignments.
Furthermore, we see that the description Ostend, Belgium creates a bitter and depressing atmosphere. Walking the streets, the smell of “fish, urine, fried onions” (10) takes over the senses and disgusts ones inner feelings about the place. The roads are made up of “narrow streets” (10) with limited access for mobility and escape. The feeling of entrapment overcomes the atmosphere and we are able to see that Ostend is thrown together in a harsh and dissonant manner.
At the closure of his stay in Ostend, Szara’s eyes are met with a faint smile from the man in the car. “Here is the world, said the smile” (15), leaving Szara speechless and overtaken by a disrupted path leading to his future. At this point, anxiety descends into the atmosphere, creating the feeling of helplessness and sorrow because he must embrace this new position not knowing what the future holds. This leaves the readers to believe that the dark and aghast road that Szara was put on, has only just begun.
In conclusion, Alan Furst’s attention to detail creates an atmosphere that exemplifies the depressed and anxiety-ridden state of Europe. From the decisive description of the Nicaea, the dark and ambient weather portrayed, the unknown and upscale assignments presented to Andre Szara, and to the unexplained figures that are keeping Szara under close radar we see a significant plot develop that shapes how the novel is presented. The atmosphere creates significance because we are able to feel the discomfort that Szara must endure and we see the setting unfold into an unpleasant and displeasing arrangement.
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