Jacob is one of the four young men who emerged from the first landed ship. Like several of his peers, he is a figure of the collective, representing the general young population that forms the foundation of the new colony. His primary function in the narrative is to be a supportive presence, reinforcing the cooperative ideal, and demonstrating the group’s capacity for consensus and moral judgment.
Part of the Collective: Jacob is initially presented simply as one of the young male survivors. He is distinguished by the white jumpsuit, symbolizing his commitment to the mission’s goal of purity, but he does not have a unique identifier that sets him apart from the rest of the original four.
The Supportive Member: His role is to be an active, functioning member of the group. He is present at the crash site and participates in the early moments of fear and anxiety alongside his comrades. He represents the average, well intentioned survivor, one who is less prone to the emotional highs of Collin or the intellectual hubris of Jeremiah.
Jacob’s main challenge, like Treet and Andrew, is the existential one: surviving and adapting to Thrae while adhering to the mission’s strict moral code.
Upholding the Code: His key challenge is to maintain the group’s values of mutual decision making and nonviolence in the face of escalating internal conflict. Since he is not a leader, he must rely on his moral compass to support the correct course of action as decided by the collective.
The Role in Judgment: Jacob’s most significant role comes during the judgment of Jeremiah. He is part of the voting collective that determines Jeremiah’s fate after the accidental murder of Andrew. In this context, Jacob represents the moral conscience of the group, the necessary consensus needed to confirm that internal violence (the influence of the “Killer Earth“) will not be tolerated.
Jacob’s ultimate display is his participation in the colony’s first major act of philosophical justice.
The Decisive Vote: When Jenny requires the survivors to agree on the punishment for Jeremiah, Jacob’s vote is crucial. His agreement to banish Jeremiah shows that the moral failure of one member is so egregious it must be purged to protect the philosophical integrity of the group.
Reinforcing the Ideal: By agreeing to banish Jeremiah, Jacob demonstrates that he prioritizes the mission’s ideals (peace, cooperation, and self control) over personal friendship or pity. He confirms that the majority of the young people are still committed to the vision of a pure new world, even if it requires harsh measures.
Stability and Compliance: Ultimately, Jacob is defined by his stability and compliance. He is the character who holds the line, contrasting with the chaotic emotionality of Collin and the destructive individualism of Jeremiah. He ensures that, at least for the time being, the moral foundation of Thrae remains intact.
