← Back to Concept Index
obsession-and-pursuit
Haldane's relentless planning and intellectual focus on meeting the girl reflect themes of obsession and the pursuit of an elusive ideal.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Last Starship from Earth (1968)John Boyd
Chapter 5
In this chapter, Haldane plans a second meeting with a mysterious girl, navigating the social divide between his mathematical world and the artistic milieu she inhabits. He struggles with his father's rigid expectations and prejudices while attempting to rationalize his interest in art and literature through a mathematical lens. Haldane also conceives an ambitious idea to mathematically evaluate literature, reflecting his attempt to reconcile his scientific mindset with the subjective world of aesthetics.