Tom Godwin's The Cold Equation

`The story, “The Cold Equation” by Tom Godwin demonstrates the theme, with every action, there is a consequence with an outcome of good or bad. It's not any ordinary day for the six men stationed at Woden, on the Stardust, a spaceship-- a huge problem that is struck throughout the story is, you must kill whoever steps foot into a secret room located in the Stardust. Marilyn, an 18-year-old innocent girl who wanted to see her brother that she missed, was soon discovered in this secret room, therefor she would need to be killed. Although she tried to get her way out of her soon to come death, there was sadly nothing the men could do, but follow the strict law. Barton, the pilot, tried various times to cease the killing of this innocent girl, but he failed to do so. After scary thoughts, failed to persuade, tears, and saying loving goodbyes, Marilyn was then

Sadly no one Barton talked too could not change the consequence for her actions, due to the law. Therefor due to her action, Barton knew the outcome was bad. It demonstrates “ Im sorry-- I can do nothing. This cruiser must maintain its schedule: the life of not one person, but the lives of many depend on it. I know how you feel, but I am powerless to help you” (4). This quote as well greatly explains the theme, simply because Barton knew that Marilyn's innocent action, has a bad outcome, death. One last example showing the theme in the story is at the end of the story when Marilyn recognized her consequence for her action was soon to come. In minutes to come she would be lifeless, because she missed and wanted to see her brother. The story reads, “ She sat motionless in the hush that followed, as though listening to the shadow echoes of the words as they died away” (12). This example sadly explains that due to the Marilyns action of hiding in the secret room, closet, her consequence of her action was