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Chapter 38
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
Descending in the space pod, Bowman reflects that he may be leaving the Discovery for the last time. Not that it matters: even if he does make it back, he will not survive long enough to be rescued. Getting closer to TMA-2, Bowman realizes how truly massive the monolith is, being nearly 2,000 feet high. Still reporting his actions to Mission Control, Bowman decides to land on the roof of the monolith—black and spotless, like the rest of the object. As he descends, however, the roof appears to fall away beneath him, extending into infinity. Bowman’s last words to Mission Control nine hundred million miles away describe the monolith as “full of stars.”
Despite its many setbacks, Discovery One has finally reached its ultimate destination. While this achievement speaks to both individual human resilience and the strength of collective endeavor, it also underscores humanity's shortcomings. Due to human negligence regarding artificial intelligence, Bowman is here alone, and it is likely that he will never return home. Still, Bowman does not forsake his connection to humanity, maintaining communication with Earth until the very last moment. This serves as a profound illustration of humans’ sense of duty to their species. Destined to die a million miles away from Earth, Bowman still hopes to contribute to the advancement of collective human knowledge with his findings.
Themes
