There are two “cold” equations used and referred to in Tom Godwin’s short story “The Cold Equations.” The first is the equation used to calculate the exact amount of fuel needed for an Emergency Dispatch Ship (EDS) to reach its destination; the second is the equation used to determine how long Marilyn can safely stay ...
What is the main idea of cold equations?
The main theme of “The Cold Equations” is about sacrifice . One person, although a young, pretty teen who has seen very little of life yet, has to be sacrificed for the good of others. Along with the pilot of the EDS, seven other people would die if she remained. Her life was just one life.
Why is the story titled The Cold Equations?
The “cold equations” referred to in Tom Godwin’s title are the calculations which confirm that the ship Stardust cannot accommodate any extra weight , and that, in accordance with laws pertaining to EDS stowaways, Marilyn, who just wanted to see her brother, must be jettisoned.
What is the plot of cold equations?
“The Cold Equations” is a short story by Tom Godwin in which a girl named Marilyn sneaks onto a cargo ship headed for the planet where her brother lives . Marilyn hasn’t seen her brother in ten years. Unaware of the laws surrounding stowaways, Marilyn sneaks onto a cargo ship bound for the planet her brother lives on.
What is the problem in The Cold Equations?
Hover for more information. The conflict of Tom Godwin’s short story “The Cold Equations” is that because of a mistake, Marilyn has to die, and Barton has to be the one to send her to her death.
Is the pilot in The Cold Equations good or bad?
From the point of view of the girl, Marilyn, who stows away on the spaceship, the pilot’s actions are bad . She will be jettisoned into space and die, and had not considered the reality of what had to happen once she was discovered. ... If he did not get to the colony, all would die.
What does the pilot want in The Cold Equations?
The only thing that the pilot wants, in “The Cold Equations”, is to be able to save the stowaway that got into his spaceship without ...
What is the climax of the cold equations?
Climax: With the realization that she would not leave this ship alive, Marilyn requests that she can contact her brother and say goodbye, as well as write letters to him and her parents .
What happens at the end of cold equations?
The “cold equations” of physics admit no other solution, and in the end, Marilyn willingly lets herself be jettisoned into space . It’s a shocking ending, and in fact, it wasn’t even Godwin’s idea.
What is the mood in the cold equations?
Mood- Mood: daunting . The mood of the setting is daunting. This is because the EDS pilot did not know how to handle the situation and the little girl did not know what she had done wrong.
What is the resolution of The Cold Equations?
Since his internal conflict concerns his inability to do his duty immediately, the story is resolved once Barton is sure he has done all he can for her . In doing all he can for her, he acquires permission from his captain to keep Marilyn on board for as long as the computers say he can.
In the short story “The Cold Equations,” author Tom Godwinwants us to believe Marilyn’s death was an inevitable sacrifice for the greater good . Godwin depicts the inevitability of Marilyn’s death by explaining the mathematical necessity of her death.
How believable is a story like The Cold Equations What examples from the story make you think this?
Tom Godwin’s short story “The Cold Equations” is realistic and believable. The use of space travel in the story is for colonization, exploration and trade . The consequences of the extra weight of the girl on the ship’s deceleration is explained in terms that are understandable and logically in sync with physics.
Who is the protagonist of The Cold Equations?
Thomas Godwin belongs to the group of authors who did not have a simple life. When he was little, both his sister and mother died unexpectedly. The above losses caused him immense suffering, even after, because he was left alone with his father, and they did not have the best relationship.
What was the most difficult part to read in The Cold Equations?
Expert Answers
This is a matter of opinion, but personally, the most difficult part for me (assuming you mean emotionally difficult rather than challenging to read) was when the girl says goodbye to her brother.
What does the government want in The Cold Equations?
In Tom Godwin’s short story “The Cold Equations,” the government wants nothing more than to explore and colonize outer space .
