Is the End of the World Meant to Represent Something in Our Own World?

Is the end of the world meant to represent something in our own world? It's a strange place, isn't it? Where, you know, they don't need to eat as much or drink as much or sleep as much. Is there something that louis wanted us to learn from this part of the story? I have to say, i've struggled to to find something there that strikes me as being am spiritually significant.