Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

The Titanic is the main setting of the novel, and it symbolizes The Impact of Class on Experiences. The Titanic accommodated three levels of travel—first, second, and steerage (third)—and these three categories were sectioned off within different areas of the ship. First-class passengers enjoyed the uppermost floors with the best views of the sky and ocean. In addition, the first-class parts of the ship had the largest rooms, the plushest carpets, and the richest variety of amenities to choose from. By contrast, second class still offered many of the luxuries as first class but on a far less opulent scale, as seen when Paddy takes refuge in the second-class barbershop. Steerage passengers were afforded cramped, dark rooms on the lower levels of the passenger floors. Steerage passengers were not given space to store objects in the cargo hold—a service offered primarily to first-class passengers and, as space allowed, to second class. As seen by Paddy’s exploration of the cargo hold, first-class passengers brought all manner of objects, from several trunks full of clothes to a fancy motorcar. This division of space, amenities, and storage represents how wealth is used as a measure to keep people of different societal statuses apart.

The Titanic also symbolizes The Inevitability of Progress. One of the major motivations behind the Titanic was competition. Thomas Andrews and others sought to outdo ships like the RMS Lusitania (the most luxurious cruise ship of the time). The White Star Company chose to build larger, more luxurious ships with the goal of offering impressive and reliable transport. This sense of competition directly correlates to the Titanic’s representation of progress, as its size and design were intended to be the best in the world and to set new standards for shipbuilding moving forward. Korman also shows the role of progress through the inclusion of true historical figures from the Titanic’s construction and voyage. Andrews designed the ship for reliability and luxury. The captain and other officials included in the book are historical figures, and their attitudes about the Titanic reflect real-life expectations of the time. By showing the confidence of these officials, Korman highlights the focus on innovation and voyage success, which partly explains why the ship sank. If not for an overconfident eye to progress, the mistakes that led to the Titanic’s demise might not have been made.