Iceberg

A dynamic character, Charlie demonstrates his capacity to change as his attitude shifts the more he’s around Hazel. He’s a porter and part of the crew on board the Titanic’s first voyage. Despite being around Hazel’s age, Charlie is mature and is a hard worker who takes much pride in a job well done. He’s dutiful and always takes on an extra load to help others. Like Hazel, Charlie is working to send money home to his family. In addition, he’s willing to bend the rules for the sake of living life and his friendship with Hazel. Even before he gets to know her, he takes her up to the first-class deck and gives her a cabin to sleep in. He also tells her when he has important information about the ship. For example, he informs Hazel about the locking gates on the lower decks, about the coal fire, and about the iceberg warnings. At first, Charlie doesn’t want her to report on these negative aspects of the ship, but he soon realizes that doing so could save lives. Hazel thus teaches Charlie The Importance of Truth and Questions and the necessity of critically examining the world through a wider moralistic lens. Like Hazel, Charlie is self-sacrificing and readily willing to put the lives of others before his own. Charlie helps Hazel escape the lower decks twice during the sinking and manages to survive by climbing onto an overturned lifeboat along with some other members of the crew.

A figure representing the archetype of a wise and kind elder, Mrs. Abelman becomes a dear friend to Hazel in a short time. Mrs. Abelman has lived life in every class, having come from poverty and married into wealth. She’s an elderly woman who likes children and who meets Hazel one day on the stairs. Hazel helps Mrs. Abelman, and they find out that they have much in common. Mrs. Abelman sees her own daughter in Hazel because Hazel is courageous and, like Mrs. Abelman, believes that helping others gives life purpose, illuminating the theme of Sacrifice, Hope, and Living for Others. Mrs. Abelman believes in Hazel and tells her that “a girl without curiosity is only beautiful on the surface” (94). She encourages Hazel’s dream by giving her a notebook to write down everything she learns and, thematically, to remind her of The Importance of Truth and Questions when Hazel doubts herself.

Mrs. Abelman teaches Hazel about icebergs and refraction and later gambles with Mr. Mollison to get Hazel’s notebook back. Hazel grows extremely fond of Mrs. Abelman, telling her, “I need you as my friend. That will always be enough for me” (180). Hazel goes to the lower decks twice to try to convince Mrs. Abelman to come to a lifeboat, but (true to her characterization) Mrs. Abelman wants the last moments of her life to have a purpose and decides to stay below to help others find safety instead. Mrs. Abelman doesn’t survive the sinking, but she tricks the Mollisons by leaving blank stock certificates in her safe deposit box, instead giving the real certificates, along with her life savings, to Hazel in her will. Thus, Mrs. Abelman sets Hazel up for a comfortable life through her one final gesture of love, knowing that Hazel will use her gift wisely.

An upper-class girl around Hazel’s age, Sylvia befriends Hazel while they wait to board the ship despite Hazel’s ragged appearance. A dynamic character, Sylvia symbolizes the theme of Friendship and Overcoming Class Divisions. Through Charlie, Sylvia invites Hazel up to the first-class deck for dinner and gives her a dress to wear. Afterward, she makes a continuous effort to befriend Hazel and show that she cares. Sylvia understands Hazel’s dream of becoming a journalist and wanting to do more with her life, and she keeps Hazel’s secret about stowing away. After they get to know one another, Sylvia proposes that Hazel become her paid companion in New York.

Hazel and Sylvia have a lot to learn from each other and are destined for a lifetime of friendship. After the ship hits the iceberg, they help one another and work together to find Mrs. Abelman on the lower decks, and Sylvia acts with bravery just as Hazel does, despite the crisis unfolding around them. Hazel enjoys being around Sylvia and how they support each other, particularly when the Mollisons kidnap Sylvia and Hazel rescues her: “As I helped her back upstairs, I wondered if this was how it felt to be a companion, something more than a friend, perhaps. I liked this feeling, of helping to save Sylvia” (245). Sylvia survives the ship’s sinking and reunites with Hazel on the Carpathia.

Mr. and Mrs. Mollison are the story’s antagonists, and their characters remain static throughout. Mrs. Mollison is rude and spiteful, and she plots to steal from Mrs. Abelman and even her own sister, Miss Gruber. Mr. Mollison cheats at gambling in an attempt to get money for him and his wife, and the two of them work together to plan their schemes. Hazel often overhears them discussing their plans and eventually sneaks into their cabin, believing that they stole her notebook. Mrs. Mollison threatens to expose Hazel as a stowaway and, when that’s no longer a viable option, threatens Hazel’s friends. The Mollisons eventually stage a fake kidnapping using Sylvia, and Hazel goes to the cargo bay to free her. Mr. Mollison’s character changes when, in his final moments, he throws Hazel onto the lifeboat to save her life. Mrs. Mollison survives and makes amends with the girls on the Carpathia.