Essay Sample on Smoking on the Titanic

Maritime treasure innovation occurred at the beginning of the 20th century. Most water vessels innovation began in 1900 when steamboats were introduced. During this time, there was a significant change in how naval vessels were made and operated. As a result complex and efficient vessels were built to transport goods and people fast but sometimes lead to deadly tragedies. One of the largest steamboats that have been ever made was the R.M.S Titanic and it was divided into three social classes. The passengers were classified into first-class, second-class and third. Most wealthy people were traveling on the Titanic because it was believed that the Titanic was unsinkable because of the high skills and resources used to construct it (Gibson, 17). However, on April 15th, 1922, this myth was proven wrong when it touched an iceberg on its maiden voyage. The accident caused almost 1500 passengers and crew members to lose their lives making it the most famous maritime tragedy in history (Gaudin, Para 2). The sinking of the Titanic ship was caused by the technology used at that time. The first-class passengers were provided with extensive facilities which were considered the best during that time. The passengers were offered to smoke but this was only for men. Although all men in all from all classes were allowed to smoke, the type of people who were smoking were the first-class passengers because they enjoyed a comfortable smoking room. They smoked cigarettes since this was the only available at that time. The first classroom was exclusively for men and was most expensive that not all of them could afford it. They used it not only for smoking but other activities such as making business deals, relaxation, and socialization (Gantt, Paul, and Ron Gantt 45). The smoking room in the other classes was not as comfortable and the third class was the poorest in decoration. The only people who were allowed to smoke on the boat were the high-class people. Women were not smoking because it was a taboo for a woman to use toxic substances. The purpose of the essay is to describe how smoking was carried out on the Titanic and the progression of tobacco throughout the year.

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First class facilities

The passengers in the first class cabins on the Titanic enjoyed comfort and luxury. They had extensive accommodations which were extensively considered as the finest of her time. There were no comparisons to the Titanic because it looked like a luxury hotel. The competitors were German and French but their interiors were heavily adorned and extravagantly decorated. On the contrary, The Titanic concentrated on comfort because the main target was wealthy. They focused on the elegance and more particularly the British style. It was huge and hence it had unusually large rooms, all equipped with the latest technologies for comfort, convenience, and hygiene. The public areas and staterooms were not used for smoking and it was forbidden to smoke in these areas. They were used for historical reference. Moreover, many women and men who could not smoke enjoyed the sporting facilities that offered the passengers happiness and satisfaction (Dahlstrom, Christina, and Bo Lundell 1750). Although not everyone was allowed to smoke in the first-class smoke rooms, other men began to enjoy smoking in the public room and on the Balcones when tension arose after the news spread that the ship was sinking (Beveridge 89).

The ship accommodated every person need by having different rooms. These include smoking room, restaurants, and cafes. The engineers used the best available technology at that time to construct the ship. The construction of the ship used a lot of money and the owner thought that he would earn a lot of revenue by making people feel comfortable when smoking or other activities. Although the ship was constructed using the best technology it sank as a result of design flaws and material failures. Security staff in the ship were not trained hence they did not know what to do when the disaster happened. When tensions aroused about the sinking of the ship, the men who were attending to the passenger started smoking because no one was condoning this behavior. They believed that nothing wrong would happen to it (Beveridge 156). In the current society, almost everyone is allowed to smoke as long as they not in the restricted areas. Likewise, if the ship was constructed using modern technology, modern equipment and sensors would be installed to alert when the ship was approaching the iceberg. Moreover, the current century is worth of technology making maritime travel these days to be one of the safest ways to get around these days. Security, training, and combo regulations have played an important role in making maritime travel safe. Using modern technology and security measures would have saved the Titanic ship from sinking hours later after it hit an iceberg.

The First Class Smoke Room

The first-class bulk was positioned on the upper decks because the noise and vibrations of the engines were not heard. On the Titanic, Deck A contained First-Class accommodation and recreational space. In addition, most of B, C, and F Decks contained first-class facilities indicating that first-class passengers were most treasured on the ship and therefore given most space. The first-class smoking room was found on A Deck aft of the Aft Grand Staircase. It could be described as a "late night" lounge and it was exclusively for first-class men. It was the most expensive and grandest room on the ship where not all first-class men could afford to pay for smoking. The room was decorated with dark mahogany wood with intricate carvings, red and blue lino tiles, the inlaid primary of pearl designs, and tainted glass windows. There were also electrical illuminations in the interior windows (Gibson, 17).

There was a huge marble coal-burning fireplace at the center and this was the only fireplace on the ship. The engineers were very careful when constructing the room by making it U-shape to emit the fireplace smoke and also from the cigarettes that were imported. The wealthy men sat comfortably to relax as they smoked (Gantt, Paul, and Ron Gantt 46). They also used it to make socialize, discuss business deals, play games and drink beer among others. A small bar serviced everyone is the room and one interesting thing is the revolving door that allowed direct access to the portside Veranda cafe and Palm court. The first-class smoking room opened from 8:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight) daily while the bar operated from 8:30 am and till 11:30 pm. When the boat was thinking, the popular William Thomas Stead was busy reading a book in this luxurious room (Gibson 20). Thomas Andrews was also found next to the fireplace in the room smoking cigar. The first-class passengers were the most class that smoked on the ship because at that time it was viewed as a luxury. Most wealthy men smoked for glamour or as a sin of showing off of their richness. They were also paying a lot of money to access the area and therefore they were allowed to smoke and carry on with other businesses they wished in this room (Kuntz, Tom, and William 345).

Although the first-class were the most smoking group the ship, other men from the second and third class were also allowed to smoke in their smoking facilities. The Second-class facilities were less spacious than the first-class although they were offered almost similar accommodations. These facilities include dining saloon, library, smoking area, and accommodation. The rooms were comfortable, spacious and had and elevators for the travelers to enjoy.

The second-class bulks were found between D and F decks in the aft of the mid-ship. The E- Deck was also designated for the second-class but acted as an alternative for the first-class when it became overbooked. The second-class smoking room was also exclusively for men. The room was next to the library and Louis XVI style was its decoration. It was paneled in oak and laid with linoleum tiles. The oak chairs were made of green Morocco leather and were positioned to surround the tables. The main activity carried out in the second-class smoking room was card playing. However, the passengers were supplied by cigars and drinks by stewards. Lastly, there was no smoking room in the third class bulk because they were not allowed to smoke. They only enjoyed a dining saloon where they were supplied with three meals per day. Only first-class passengers were allowed in the boat.

Stigma surrounding smoking

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were a lot of stigmas about smoking. People believed that smoking belonged to those in high social class. It was also a taboo for a woman to smoke any form of tobacco. Smoking was viewed as an attractive activity that men in the high-income class. It was an attractive image to see a man smoking and it was associated with glamour, maturity, wealth and friendship. Unlike in the current century, where smoking tobacco is linked addition, in the time of Titanic, was for pleasure. Cigarettes were not easily available at the beginning of the 20th century and most men from the lower class admired smoking but they could not afford them. Smoking was not done in at night and in private or designated rooms. Smoking in public due to health purposes because it affects not only the smoker and the people in the same location.

Smoking was the cause of many deaths in both smokers and non-smokers in the 20th century. According to a study carried out by Doll, Richard, et al 2004 most men born in 1920 and had been smoking cigarettes for a long period had high mortality rates (Doll 1529).

Smoking was a symbol of simple desires in the 20th century. It was done in pipe smoking which was commonly known as the "noble savage". It was enjoyed in libraries and smoking saloon by the empowered high class who viewed it as a harmless pleasure. The act was also linked with conservative values where men could think about new and inventive strategies to improve their lives after smoking. However, this pleasure was only confined in the male world because it was viewed as a masculinity practice. Women, on the other hand, were not allowed to smoke because it was considered as a dirty habit. At that time, women who smoked were associated with prostitution and the society did not want to associate with them (Stuber, Jennifer, Sandro Galea, and Bruce 430).

The Titanic made people to smoke because it was associated with wealth. The first-class bulk had a luxurious smoking room that people hoped to enjoy (Hopton Para 2). The room was like a night lounge and wealthy men went to make business deals and socialize with other folks of the same class. According to Albert Bandura people learn by watching what the others are doing, for instance, if an individual sees a person being awarded for a certain behavior, he or she will tend to behave in the same manner to receive an award (Bandura 99). When people watched how passengers in the Titanic smoked cigarettes to remain come during the disaster, they realized that it was a helpful habit and started smoking. Moreover, those who smoked were respected and treated well compared to non-smokers. Personality is brought about by the standard of reciprocal determinism that states that people's internal factors, their behaviors, and their environment affect one another. People adopted this behavior which later became their personality. The mental events which are internal, overt behavior and the external events which are the environment affect each other to determine an individual personality. Personal factors that influence one's personality include the different cognitive and biological process that makes up the psychological person (Bandura, 5). The surrounding or environmental aspects include current opportunities and incentives, physical attributes, and cultural context.