“The Twain Convergence” by Thomas Hardy describes the events that led to the sinking of the Titanic and the consequences; however, on a deeper level, the work explores the theme of conflict between man and nature. These opposing forces demonstrate the superiority of nature, since it is man's vanity that causes the tragedy of the Titanic. Through juxtaposition, diction, figurative language, and opposition, the speaker's critical tone towards 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe juxtaposition between what the ship once was and how it now sits at the bottom of the ocean highlights the speaker's critical tone, suggesting that humanity's vanity is powerless against the forces of nature. The ship's final resting place in the "solitude of the sea / In the depths of human vanity / And the pride of life" (1-3) highlights the conflict between man and nature, implying that although humanity may build extravagant machines and massive, they cannot dominate nature. The speaker describes the "mirrors meant / To mirror the opulent" (7-8) now covered with "sea [worms]... - grotesque, slimy, dumb, indifferent" (9), underlining the irony that these mirrors, once extravagant, a symbol of man's vanity, now lie on the ocean floor covered in vile sea creatures. Only the “Fish with the eyes of the dim moon” (13) can now “Look at the golden gear” (14) and ask himself “What does this vainglory [at the bottom of the ocean] mean” (15), reflecting, through this verbal irony , the futility of man's arrogance against the power of nature and God. Therefore, everything that humanity creates to satisfy its own vain desires is useless in nature, reflecting the conflict between man and nature. The diction and figurative language emphasize the inevitability of disaster, reflecting the one-sided conflict of man versus nature and the speaker's critical tone. As the Titanic was being built, “The Immanent Will that moves and impels all / Prepared a sinister companion” (18-19), suggesting, with the play on words “immanent” with “imminent”, as well as the menacing diction and 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 and grace and color, / In the dark and silent distance the Iceberg also grew" (22-24), reinforcing the idea, through haunting diction, that the The iceberg formed in response to humanity's arrogance in creating the so-called unsinkable ship. Humanity, therefore, brings this disaster upon itself because it was only because of man's vanity that nature was forced to create the iceberg. that disaster was destined to occur and reflects the title of the poem itself. To humanity, the iceberg and the Titanic seemed “alien” to each other (25) as “no mortal eye could [foresee] / [their] intimate welding” (26-27), yet they stood on “coinciding paths” (29); the play on words between “welding” and “marriage” as well as the opposition of what little humanity can see with the omniscience of nature criticizes man's short-sightedness and arrogance, suggesting that the ship and the icebergs were destined to become one, forming a marriage-like relationship. Humanity had believed in its vanity to have built a large and unsinkable ship, but to destroy it all it took was “the Spinner of Years” (31) who only needed to pronounce the word “And each [listened], / and the consummation [came ], and [shook] the two hemispheres” (32-33), highlighting the idea that these two wonderful creations.