The Vanity of Humanity Anonymous 12th Grade

Thomas Hardy’s “The Convergence of the Twain” describes the events leading up to the sinking of the Titanic as well as the aftermath; however, on a deeper level, the work explores the theme of the conflict between man and nature. These opposing forces demonstrate the superiority of nature, as it is the vanity of man that brings about the tragedy of the Titanic. Through juxtaposition, diction, figurative language, and opposition the speaker’s critical tone toward mankind is established, reinforcing the idea that humanity brought this disaster upon itself.

The juxtaposition of what the ship once was and how it is now at the bottom of the ocean highlights the critical tone of the speaker, suggesting that humanity’s vanity is powerless against the forces of nature. The final resting place of the ship being in the “solitude of the sea / Deep from human vanity / And the Pride of Life” (1-3) highlights the conflict between man and nature, implying that although mankind can build extravagant and massive machines, they cannot master nature. The speaker describes the “mirrors meant / To glass the opulent” (7-8) now covered in “sea-[worms]… - grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent” (9), emphasizing the irony that these once extravagant...