Character Analysis
Ismay works for the White Star line, the shipping line that the Titanic was affiliated with. He's super eager to make a splash with Titanic's first voyage in terms of press coverage, so he pressures the captain to speed up so they can make it to New York early.
Of course, that decision is ultimately responsible for the fact that the Titanic hits an iceberg, so Ismay does end up getting those headlines…just not the way he wanted.