Hi all,

Just from reading a lot of the posted views I have to say that a lot of people have the vision of the Titanic as a dream cruise ship. This couldn't be further form the truth. The 'Titanic' was commissioned as an emigrant transport liner. That fatal night when the Titanic sank, however, is not commonly remembered as the night hundreds of emigrants died.

It's remembered by many for the gentlemen who were 'ready to go down in dressed in their finest clothes', the still calm sea, the clear starry sky, natures victory over man and the end to the maiden voyage of the biggest ocean liner of the time. These images have all the hallmarks of a Greek tragedy and that's why so many millions of people are fascinated by the Titanic.

What must be remembered is that the hundreds of emigrants who perished were looked down upon by most of the first class aristocratic well to do passengers on that maiden voyage. All the ills of society at the time were reflected on board Titanic i.e. class distinction, mass emigration and the ignorance and arrogance of an all conquering industrialised age.

I am from the mid-west of Ireland from where 22 third class passengers and two second class passengers boarded the ship at Queenstown. Many of them were sailing to America to seek out a new life not to become a victim of the arrogance of man. All but four of these emigrants survived. I have had the pleasure of meeting relatives of these victims. The relatives, like me, admire the liner for its grandeour but are equally aware of the social injustices committed on it.

Many other emigrant registered ships and liners sank before and after 1912 but none have been documented more that the Titanic. Why? Because the ship represented all aspects of western society at the time. The dreams and hopes carried by those emigrants should be remembered and admired a lot more than the 66,000 tonnes of steel lying at the bottom of the Atlantic with the lost fortunes of the Guggenheim/Astor types.

Lightholler :(

Lightholler,
Your post was well said, and you mention some very good points. I for one agree with you on all of them.
Not many folks know that the White Star Line in addition to the Cunard, French, and Hamburg- America Lines made their greatest profits in the ocean liner trade, not from the 1st class passengers on board, but from those who booked passage in steerage or 3rd class.

The great loss of life from the largest (and most 'unsinkable') ocean liner of the day taking place on her maiden voyage, and how the three different class distinctions where treated as the ship was sinking, are just a few reasons why people are so captivated by the story of the RMS Titanic.

But as you mention, people also believe that the Titanic was a 'dream ship' since people envision that her "Ship of Dreams" label was her most distinct attribute. But as the very popular 1997 recalls this nickname, it's also the same James Cameron film that gives us a little insight as to what took place below decks as we got a glimpse of the confusion of 3rd class passengers. This sad aspect into the life of ship is often a very overlooked and forgotten fact for the majority of folks.
I think those intereted people who want to appreciate and want understand the full story of the Titanic will realize this.