The Convergence of the Twain
Thomas Hardy
The structure of the poem creates an air of irony around the Titanic. Though it was created with beauty, extravagance, and invincibility in mind, every stanza ends with the imagery of the current resting place of the ship. The ship sailed as a fantastic vessel, but couldn't avoid a doomed fate and now resides at the bottom of the sea. Not only did the ship meet a grim fate, but now it is no longer idolized, for it is inhabited by sea creatures and decay that show no appreciation for what the Titanic once was. A glimpse of symbolism comes from the terms twin and two. "On being anon twin halves of one august event" and "jars two hemispheres" (Hardy 779) allude to the rise and fall of the Titanic, as well as the connection between the two sides of the world. The ship was meant to be a link between lavish Europe and unexplored America, but its wreckage became a model of arrogance. It showed the two hemispheres that problems can occur, and it is important to slow themselves down as to not cause another disaster. The twin halves of the ship would forever serve as an example to the world of what can come from those who become over confident with their work.
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