If I Forget Thee, O Earth . . .

by Arthur C. Clarke

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Characters

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Marvin

Marvin, the central character, is a young boy living in a moon colony. At ten years old, he witnesses the post-apocalyptic Earth for the first time during an earthrise. The story unfolds through Marvin's perspective, allowing readers to experience the shock of Earth's devastation alongside him. Marvin feels thrilled when he learns his father will take him outside to the moon's surface. His excitement grows as they climb into the scout car and begin their journey. Although Marvin has seen images and television broadcasts of the moon's surface from within the colony, seeing it in person is far more breathtaking. The stars, invisible from inside the colony, are equally mesmerizing. However, Marvin's joy turns to horror when he sees his first earthrise. The illuminated half of Earth appears normal, and Marvin envisions the lush forests and oceans he has heard about. But the half that should be dark is aglow, a chilling reminder of the atomic war's radioactive aftermath. Marvin's father explains that humanity annihilated itself, leaving only a small group of survivors on the moon. They must endure for centuries until the radioactivity diminishes, ensuring the preservation of humanity within the moon colony, so future generations can eventually return to Earth.

Marvin’s Father

Marvin’s father, an original member of the lunar colony, remains mostly silent throughout the story. Through Marvin's observations, readers learn that during their journey to the moon's dark side, his father drives swiftly and recklessly, as if fleeing from something. Upon reaching the location where they witness the earthrise, Marvin sees the radioactive Earth and understands his father's behavior. Having lived on Earth, Marvin’s father is acutely aware of what he has lost by being exiled to the moon's artificial habitat. As they watch the earthrise, he recounts the tale of the atomic war that left their colony marooned on the moon and the struggle for survival they faced. Most importantly, he emphasizes to Marvin the critical need for survival and reproduction, so that future generations can eventually return to Earth once it is free from radioactivity.

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