“The Convergence of Twain” by Thomas Hardy describes the events leading up to the sinking of the Titanic and their aftermath; however, on a deeper level, the work explores the theme of conflict between man and nature. These opposing forces demonstrate the superiority of nature, because it is man's vanity that causes the tragedy of the Titanic. Through juxtaposition, diction, figurative language, and opposition, the speaker's critical tone toward humanity is established, reinforcing the idea that humanity has brought this disaster upon itself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay The juxtaposition of what the ship once was and how it now lies at the bottom of the ocean highlights the critical tone of the speaker, suggesting that the vanity of humanity is powerless against the forces of nature. The ship's final resting place being in "the solitude of the sea / Deep of human vanity / And the pride of life" (1-3) highlights the conflict between man and nature, which implies that although humanity can build extravagant and massive machines, they cannot overpower nature. The speaker describes the "mirrors intended / To glaze the opulent" (7-8) now covered in "mer-[worms]… - grotesque, slimy, mute, indifferent" (9), emphasizing the irony that these mirrors once extravagant, a symbol of man's vanity, now lie at the bottom of the ocean, covered with vile sea creatures. Only the “dark moon-eyed fish” (13) can now “behold the golden gears” (14) and wonder “What is this vanity [at the bottom of the ocean]” (15), reflecting , through this verbal irony, the futility of man's excessive pride in the face of the power of nature and God. Thus, everything that humanity creates to satisfy its own vain desires is useless by nature, reflecting the conflict between man and nature. Diction and figurative language emphasize the inevitability of disaster, reflecting man's one-sided conflict against nature and criticism. tone of the speaker. While the Titanic was under construction, "The immanent will that stirs and impels all / Prepared a sinister companion" (18-19), suggesting, with the pun "immanent" with "imminent", as well as the ominous diction and the personification of nature, that this disaster was inevitable since nature itself had created the iceberg in response to the Titanic. The speaker describes that "As the intelligent ship grew / In stature, grace and hue, / In dark and silent distance, so did the iceberg" (22-24), reinforcing the idea, through a worrying diction, which the iceberg appeared in response. to the pride of humanity in the creation of the so-called unsinkable ship. Thus, humanity brings this disaster upon itself because it is only because of man's vanity that nature was forced to create the iceberg. The contrast of man's pride with nature's omnipotence reiterates the speaker's critical tone toward man, reinforcing the idea that the disaster was destined to occur and reflected the title of the poem itself. For humanity, the iceberg and the Titanic seemed "foreign" to each other since "no mortal eye could [foresee] / [their] intimate weld" (26-27), yet they were on “coincident paths” (29). ); the pun on the word "welding" with "marriage" as well as the opposition of what humanity can see with the omniscience of nature criticizes man's myopia and hubris, suggesting that the ship and the iceberg were destined to become one, forming a marriage-like relationship. Humanity.