Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in 2001: A Space Odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Collaboration vs. Individualism
Tools and Human Evolution
Space Travel
The Perils of Knowledge
Summary
Analysis
From the outside, it is impossible to tell that Discovery carries any life. It has all the tell-tale signs of disaster: its airlocks are open, and it’s surrounded by debris from the interior of the ship. Still, there is a faint blue light coming from the observation deck, suggesting the possibility of life. Suddenly, three cylindrical objects emerge from the airlock, followed by a space pod. A figure emerges from the pod and conducts repairs on the mounting of an antenna. The figure returns, and eventually the airlocks close. Power returns to the ship and the antenna reorients toward Earth. Bowman sends a long message using the repaired communications system. It is hard to imagine what Earth could respond except “Goodbye.”
With the atmosphere sucked out of the ship, Bowman’s odds of survival look slim. Stranded millions of miles away from home in a damaged ship, Bowman can only imagine that Earth’s message to him will be “Goodbye.” Despite such a dire predicament, however, Bowman does not break down or give up. Not only does he give his crewmates a proper funeral send-off, but he works fast to to repair the ship and reinstate its communications with Earth. This is a testament to Bowman’s sense of duty, as well as his personal hardiness and bravery.
Themes
