Placed in two extreme dilemmas of life and death, two men show their truest natures under pressure and demonstrate their traits of decisiveness and idealism. One of those men is Lieutenant-Commander Oram from “Gentlemen, Your verdict” by Michael Bruce and the other an ordinary father from “After the Sirens” by Hugh Hood. First off, decisive action is what allows Oram and the father to accomplish their respective goals, and their decisiveness bonds them together. Oram, upon gaining knowledge of his entire crews eminent end through a sunken submarine must make a decision of whether to save five through sacrificing fifteen or condemn all twenty. To best assure those five men’s survival, he makes an immediate decision of sacrifice and instructs
…show more content…
By solving and completing the dilemma so thoroughly, although albeit understandingly controversially, his decisive personality was shown. Similarly the father from “After he Sirens” also shows his decisive nature through the entire span of the story in effort to survive. Particularly in his actions and dialogue to his wife, by ordering his wife by directing “don’ ask me any questions, please, just do exactly as I tell you and don’t waste any time,” he shows his serious, no dallying nature though strong plotted out action [page 160]. Once e decided on survival, he quickly works through the situation to better raise his family’s chance of living beyond the atomic bomb. Furthermore in addition to being decisive, the two men share idealistic tendencies. Oram facing the dilemma of murder to save lives, clearly states “I could condemn my whole crew to death or sacrifice fifteen and save five, and I am going to join (my crew)’. He had the easy choice of giving up on his morals of life over death and claim murder is incorrect to allow everyone to die- which he could persist with no ill thought from …show more content…
To start off, Oram with a background in military, majorly deals out orders with sparse praise only saved for unthinkable situations and leaves emotions behind a closed off face. He is reserved, in comparison to the father, even under the pressure of deciding the fate of his crews. As he got the news the submarine he is piloting had no chance of rescue for seven days, he only pales, laying down the phone and “for nearly a minute [sits]staring blindly. . . then Oram [rouses] himself,” not speaking out for others consultation, keeping his situation to himself [pg 23]. Even upon delivering the news of death to the shore station, he speaks reportedly in a “flat, unemotional voice,” at the “horrified squack,” in response [page 25]. Here Oram keeps his calm and reserved façade to logically approach the situation alone. On comparison, the father is notably more transparent, not only freely showing his emotional state more freely in panicked tones and hope, but also through clearly stating the problem and his plans. While Oram hides the severity of the situation till absolutely vital, the father immediately tells the wife of an impending nuclear air raid by stating “they say this is an air raid and we’d better believe them,” [page 160]. The father chooses an upfront and emotional stance,
By solving and completing the dilemma so thoroughly, although albeit understandingly controversially, his decisive personality was shown. Similarly the father from “After he Sirens” also shows his decisive nature through the entire span of the story in effort to survive. Particularly in his actions and dialogue to his wife, by ordering his wife by directing “don’ ask me any questions, please, just do exactly as I tell you and don’t waste any time,” he shows his serious, no dallying nature though strong plotted out action [page 160]. Once e decided on survival, he quickly works through the situation to better raise his family’s chance of living beyond the atomic bomb. Furthermore in addition to being decisive, the two men share idealistic tendencies. Oram facing the dilemma of murder to save lives, clearly states “I could condemn my whole crew to death or sacrifice fifteen and save five, and I am going to join (my crew)’. He had the easy choice of giving up on his morals of life over death and claim murder is incorrect to allow everyone to die- which he could persist with no ill thought from …show more content…
To start off, Oram with a background in military, majorly deals out orders with sparse praise only saved for unthinkable situations and leaves emotions behind a closed off face. He is reserved, in comparison to the father, even under the pressure of deciding the fate of his crews. As he got the news the submarine he is piloting had no chance of rescue for seven days, he only pales, laying down the phone and “for nearly a minute [sits]staring blindly. . . then Oram [rouses] himself,” not speaking out for others consultation, keeping his situation to himself [pg 23]. Even upon delivering the news of death to the shore station, he speaks reportedly in a “flat, unemotional voice,” at the “horrified squack,” in response [page 25]. Here Oram keeps his calm and reserved façade to logically approach the situation alone. On comparison, the father is notably more transparent, not only freely showing his emotional state more freely in panicked tones and hope, but also through clearly stating the problem and his plans. While Oram hides the severity of the situation till absolutely vital, the father immediately tells the wife of an impending nuclear air raid by stating “they say this is an air raid and we’d better believe them,” [page 160]. The father chooses an upfront and emotional stance,