Convergence of the Twain- Blog 1

A reference to the Titanic- a ship that sunk in 1912- "Convergence of the Twain" by Thomas Hardy really hits hit on the negative effects of both human vanity and riches. Using descriptive imagery like "the sea-worm crawls - grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent," (Line 9) and "Jewels in joy designed to ravish the sensuous mind" (Line 10-11), Hardy expresses that the Titanic horror occured because of human vanity and an obsession with material riches. People and their "Pride of Life" (Line 3) set into motion a "plan". That is referenced in the first stanza and later explained in the sixth and seventh stanzas. There is an "Immanent Will" or a higher power that was preparing for this tragedy to occur to try and show that this lifestyle and the things that people are caring for are not right. Then, the poem goes on to describe how the iceburg and the ship had the same path all along, so that on that fateful night, tragedy would strike, and we the people would be punished for the way we were living our lives. The higher power says "Now!" (Line 32) and just like that the ship sinks after hitting the iceburg. Then all of those riches, jewels, and the "mirrors meant to glass the opulent" (Line 7-8) that were supposed to show off wealth and class ended up at the bottom of the ocean where no one could see them. The poem in itself was written to be both a point made and a lesson learned. Material goods and human vanity are not what life is about, but if we treat life as such, we need to be warned of what might happen if we do.