E. C. Clarke's 'The Star And The Celestial Omnibus'

“The major task of the twentieth century will be to explore the unconscious, to investigate the subsoil of the mind” (Henri Bergson). During the twentieth century, the world wars were playing out so one can see why authors would choose to focus on celestial settings since they provided the much needed escape from their violence-stricken lives. In Arthur C. Clarke’s, space odyssey short story, “The Star,” an astrophysicist priest’s faith is shaken by the discovery of an obliterated race deep in outer space. Likewise, in E. M. Forster’s, insightful short story, “The Celestial Omnibus,” a young boy ventures out beyond the safety of his home and discovers a bus to heaven. Despite being mocked on Earth, he is crowned king for his innocence and humility. In both texts, the protagonists embark on a journey and discover secrets unknown to the universe before. These journeys influence their decision making skills and structure the choices they make. The character development of the protagonists in “The Star” and “The Celestial Omnibus,” the characterization of the secondary characters, and the internal conflict all illustrate how one’s decisions are influenced by outside forces. Both texts argue that a person’s attitude in a situation must take into account all outside forces, affecting their overall perspective.
The character development of the boy in “The Celestial Omnibus” depicts how a child’s innocence can be broken down under the pressures from the people around them. In the