"If I Forgot Thee Oh Earth" By Arthur C. Clarke
By Andrew V.
Most people have had a person close to them pass way. Some of those that have gone gave younger people important lessons. This applies especially with this story. Where remembering something is incredibly important. In this story, a father takes his son on a journey to tell him the reason for remembering the earth.
Marvins Father takes Marvin on a trip to see the earth. The trip is a very long trip. When they arrive to the desired destination, Marvin sees where his ancestors once lived and a place that was alive and vibrant. Marvin suddenly realizes why his father took him to that place. He learned what they will do one day when his childrens childrens go back home to earth and what it will be like. Marvin also realizes that he will always tell his children about this. Then Marvin says “His children’s children would return return to claim their heritage”. He will pass it on to all their children. Until one day, they know their children’s children will return to reclaim their lives of their ancestors.
In the end, Marvin learns why his father brought him to the place. Marvins Father takes Marvin to a place far away that takes a long time. Their children also have some brief knowledge about the Earth. Marvin never really thought about the Earth that much until that day. Because the trip takes so long, they are missing a lot of valuable time to do work and school for Marvin. Yet even when they are missing all that they think it's far too important not to go. The children off the outpost never really understood the importance of it when they were told in school. So this trip is very important for them to understand. “And now father began to speak, telling Marvin the story which until this moment had meant no more than a fairy tales he had once been told” says Marvin. This shows greatly that they did not think much of it until they see it themselves. So, the other children would never truly grasp the importance of that trip, and to remember it. So they can return one day.
Last reason is one day, they want to return to the earth. If they want to back, they have to remember their old ways of life. They can't forget it. “Them, the great ships that were waiting here on the silent, dusty plains would lift once more into space, along the road that left for home” They’ve waited for a long time to leave. They are eager to return and need to remember that place. “ His children's children would return to claim their heritage”. They want them to return. They need them, in fact, to return. They can’t stay forever. One day they must return.
At the end of the story, Marvin realizes he has to remember the earth as not to forget what they will do, and what life will be like . If they don’t remember that, it may cause a lot of harm to a lot of people. It may not cause everyone pain immediately, but they will soon. And people were to forget something, they could lose something a lot more precious than they think.