Mood in the Cold Equations
Sometimes, even the most innocent and smallest of mistakes can have a drastic effect on things. Since space is pretty much the full extent of human exploration, small mistakes almost always have a very drastic effect. In the short story “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin, he creates an intense and tragic mood, by foreshadowing the inevitability of Marilyn’s death, even when she was innocent and unaware of the extreme consequence of her mistake.
The pilot, Barton was intensely shocked when he found out that the stowaway was a girl. As in the story it’s described as, “ It was a girl.
He stared without speaking, his hand dropping away from the blaster, and acceptance of what he saw coming like a heavy and unexpected physical blow.” (Godwin 2). When barton found out that the stowaway was girl, he was completely shocked and saddened, if it would have been a man he would have immediately jettisoned him, but with such a beautiful girl in her teens he didn’t know what to do. …show more content…
This is what the Commander said, “I’m sorry — I can do nothing. This
cruiser must maintain its schedule; the life of not one person but the lives of many depend on it. I know how you feel but I’m powerless to help you. You’ll have to go through with it. I’ll have you connected with Ship’s Records.”(Godwin 5). The commander told Barton that he was powerless and that cruiser couldn’t return to pick up the girl, as many lives may depend on it keeping its
Sometimes, even the most innocent and smallest of mistakes can have a drastic effect on things. Since space is pretty much the full extent of human exploration, small mistakes almost always have a very drastic effect. In the short story “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin, he creates an intense and tragic mood, by foreshadowing the inevitability of Marilyn’s death, even when she was innocent and unaware of the extreme consequence of her mistake.
The pilot, Barton was intensely shocked when he found out that the stowaway was a girl. As in the story it’s described as, “ It was a girl.
He stared without speaking, his hand dropping away from the blaster, and acceptance of what he saw coming like a heavy and unexpected physical blow.” (Godwin 2). When barton found out that the stowaway was girl, he was completely shocked and saddened, if it would have been a man he would have immediately jettisoned him, but with such a beautiful girl in her teens he didn’t know what to do. …show more content…
This is what the Commander said, “I’m sorry — I can do nothing. This
cruiser must maintain its schedule; the life of not one person but the lives of many depend on it. I know how you feel but I’m powerless to help you. You’ll have to go through with it. I’ll have you connected with Ship’s Records.”(Godwin 5). The commander told Barton that he was powerless and that cruiser couldn’t return to pick up the girl, as many lives may depend on it keeping its