Like Rita, I am basically an optimist. I would probably have trusted that the ship was safe because of her speed and the promises of naval support. I would want to believe it was safe to get to my brother before he left for the front.
I think she thought that England would escort and protect the ship. We all make decisions to do things that are somewhat dangerous, thinking âEverything will be all rightâ and âIt wonât happen to me.â She was willing to take a chance because of her desire to see her brother. I would have done the same thing.
I believe she was a little too trusting of the shipâs company to provide a safe passage. Once onboard I think she became a little more skeptical when speaking with George and also learning that not all engines were in use but at that point it was too late. She could have taken the American steamer, but she may have missed her brother and getting to her family was too important to her. Hard to say if I would have boarded the ship. I probably would have trusted the shipâs company to ensure a safe passage
In my opinion, the world was a much different place then and Ritaâs decision has to be analyzed from that vantage point. In a world where we hear news instantaneously and have access to unlimited sources of information, itâs hard to wrap our heads around how little people knew about what was happening in the world back then. Rita, Charles, et al. had not yet survived a World War and they were naive â not only with regard to the protection that could be provided the ship by other vessels, but also regarding the shipâs speed. The Titanic is briefly referenced in the book. But the reasons it sank were very different. It wasnât attacked â it was a technical failure related to the ripping open of the airtight compartments by the iceberg. And the shipâs failure wasnât related to the speed at which it could travel. More importantly, no one believed, apparently, that the Germans would attack a ship carrying so many Americans because the U.S. was, at that point, still neutral. There was a lack of understanding about how cunning, ruthless, and downright evil war makes people. She wanted so much to see her brother before he went off to war that she was willing to accept the risks, as she was able to weigh them with the information available to her. Would I have boarded the ship? Perhaps, but again I can only respond by attempting to place myself in the same position with the same knowledge that Rita possessed.
1 Like
I probably would have made the same decision. The passengers probably felt the British Navy would protect them. Rita wanted to see her brother before he left for the front, and that emotional pull likely outweighed the perceived risk.
Itâs also important to remember that people then didnât have the constant flow of information we have today. The United States was still neutral, and many believed Germany wouldnât attack a ship carrying so many Americans. With the limited information available to her, Ritaâs decision seems understandable.
Like her, I think I would have trusted that everything would be all right and boarded the ship, hoping the danger had been exaggerated.