Kafkaesque to say the least, Matheson explores several fears all at once that I and many others have had and connects them to the loss of status among our fellow humans. The fear of death is prevalent in Scott's, the shrinking man, preoccupation with what will happen when he shrinks from 1/7 of an inch to 0 inches. It is the most terrifying thought since like death there is no knowledge of what happens afterward because, like in case of shrinking men, nobody has come back to tell the tale.
Also the loss of physical vigor is a constant reminder of our impending end. Shrinking becomes aging but so much more obvious. He loses everything that he has accomplished in life, his job wife and child, due to something he cannot control. There is no rationalization, no magical thinking that can save Scott. The oh so apparent handicap forces him to constantly adapt just to survive.
But from all this there is a positive ending, contrary to Matheson's I am Legend. Even though he has no hope to escape his plight, the mystery of what will happen at the end keeps him going. That is the message of this story. We keep living through life's hurdles because we don't know what is coming next. The uncertainty of the future and its inevitability ushers us forward.
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