The Endurance by Caroline Alexander
"I am not very susceptible to emotions, but as those noble peaks faded away in the mist, I could scarce repress the sadness to leave forever the land that has rained on us its bounty and been salvation. Our hut, a lone relic of our habitation, will become a centre around which conveys of penguins will assemble to gaze with curiosity and deliberate its origin. Good old Elephant Isle" (Alexander page 185)
These words were said by Hurley after the rescue of the crew. After being stranded on the ice for 10 weeks, they were finally rescued. The crew had been in such horrible conditions that when they got to Elephant Isle, they felt much safer, although there was still blizzards and freezing winds. Living in a small hut made out of a few lifeboats, they camped there for weeks, waiting to see a boat sail across the shoreline. Although Elephant Isle did not have a "homey" feel, the crew still felt grateful for its masses of food and water. At this moment, Shackleton is the tiredest he has ever been. "I have done it. Damn the admiralty, not a life lost and we have been through hell" said Shackleton. Shackleton's leadership had brought these men to safety, and without him, many would have died.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSAE09AKkLU&feature=related
The video above shows the end of the journey. After they spent so long on the ice, they made the trek to Elephant Isle in search of rescue. Although they didn't get help right away, the Island was plentiful in resources. As Shackleton left on the life boat to go find rescue, most thought that he would never return. The only thing that kept to crew sane was Shackleton's presence, and most thought that everyone would die without him. But Shackleton did return with a large steam boat. Once they were seen by the boat and sent back home, Shackleton was not recognized as a hero. People back home said they were all just lucky that they got to miss two years of the World War. Throughout the story, there have not been many symbols, but i see the ice as obstacles. Ice originally brought down the ship, and ice has stopped Shackleton from finding rescue. The ice always seems to be in the way inhibiting the men from success.
http://www.nzetc.org/etexts/Gov08_06Rail/Gov08_06Rail029a%28h280%29.jpg
This picture shows Shackleton returning on his lifeboat. This image captures the emotions that the men were feeling. After being lost and confused for so long in the harsh cold environment, there is finally some light. An emotion that is almost never captured on camera is the feeling of rescue. This photo does so perfectly. This unique image helps me to see the gravity of the situation. They were waiting for weeks and weeks to see this boat and it had finally come.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
IR Blog Post 3
The Endurance by Caroline Alexander
"McNish cooled down, and the situation passed. But Shackleton remained conscious of the narrowly averted danger. More had been at stake than one disgruntled seaman. Not only had McNish disobeyed orders at a moment of critically low morale, but he had also, as it were, defied Shackleton's optimistic pronouncements. It was now impossible to pretend that their painful efforts held any hope of success. Perhaps Shackleton's muttering critics had been right, and they should not have moved from ocean camp. McNish's brief rebellion had suggested the unthinkable--that the boss was capable of significant error" (Alexander Page 113).
As the men left the area of their wrecked ship, they head off in search of finding rescue or an island. Leaving the camp meant leaving some things behind, the carrying heavy loads of food and supplies, anda dangerous journey through the cold. Although it may have seemed like a smart decision at the time, a blizzard swept over them after the left. Stranded and scared they had to set up the new camp, about 150 miles from the nearest island. This passage is significant because of the leadership Shackleton showed. He took charge as captain of the ship from the beginning, and he is leading the charge across the ice to safety. Because he made a bad decision, some people are becoming upset with him. Shackleton knows that the only reason why no one has died yet is because he has given these men hope. A rebellion would surely split them up and they would go their separate ways. A united group can survive, and Shackleton is the one who realizes that. He stresses a positive attitude and patience.
http://www.pondaray.com/catalog/images/Leonard,%20Hussey%20&%20Samson.jpg
The man is the photo is Hussey with the giant dog Samson. The dogs play a huge role in the journey. They are there to help with hunting and carrying gear, but most importantly they are great for morale. Shackleton is always trying to give his men hope. I think that the dogs are the perfect symbol of hope. They don't seem to know that they are stranded in a harsh environment. Whenever the story seems to get too depressing or slow, the dogs come in a do something funny. This helps the men have the Endurance to get through it.
http://www.pondaray.com/catalog/images/Leonard,%20Hussey%20&%20Samson.jpg
At 5:45 in the video, the man talks about why the men did not crack. For many days they had little food and wet clothes. He says that it was Shackleton's flame within him. Throughout the story so far, Shackleton has done everything in his power to make his men happier. He was a man who could drive his men on and on to continue searching for land just as well as comfort them and ask how they are feeling. On of the things they took him them from the Endurance was a life boat. They ended up using this boat to search for an island. As their gear is beginning to run low, they become nervous.
"McNish cooled down, and the situation passed. But Shackleton remained conscious of the narrowly averted danger. More had been at stake than one disgruntled seaman. Not only had McNish disobeyed orders at a moment of critically low morale, but he had also, as it were, defied Shackleton's optimistic pronouncements. It was now impossible to pretend that their painful efforts held any hope of success. Perhaps Shackleton's muttering critics had been right, and they should not have moved from ocean camp. McNish's brief rebellion had suggested the unthinkable--that the boss was capable of significant error" (Alexander Page 113).
As the men left the area of their wrecked ship, they head off in search of finding rescue or an island. Leaving the camp meant leaving some things behind, the carrying heavy loads of food and supplies, anda dangerous journey through the cold. Although it may have seemed like a smart decision at the time, a blizzard swept over them after the left. Stranded and scared they had to set up the new camp, about 150 miles from the nearest island. This passage is significant because of the leadership Shackleton showed. He took charge as captain of the ship from the beginning, and he is leading the charge across the ice to safety. Because he made a bad decision, some people are becoming upset with him. Shackleton knows that the only reason why no one has died yet is because he has given these men hope. A rebellion would surely split them up and they would go their separate ways. A united group can survive, and Shackleton is the one who realizes that. He stresses a positive attitude and patience.
http://www.pondaray.com/catalog/images/Leonard,%20Hussey%20&%20Samson.jpg
The man is the photo is Hussey with the giant dog Samson. The dogs play a huge role in the journey. They are there to help with hunting and carrying gear, but most importantly they are great for morale. Shackleton is always trying to give his men hope. I think that the dogs are the perfect symbol of hope. They don't seem to know that they are stranded in a harsh environment. Whenever the story seems to get too depressing or slow, the dogs come in a do something funny. This helps the men have the Endurance to get through it.
http://www.pondaray.com/catalog/images/Leonard,%20Hussey%20&%20Samson.jpg
At 5:45 in the video, the man talks about why the men did not crack. For many days they had little food and wet clothes. He says that it was Shackleton's flame within him. Throughout the story so far, Shackleton has done everything in his power to make his men happier. He was a man who could drive his men on and on to continue searching for land just as well as comfort them and ask how they are feeling. On of the things they took him them from the Endurance was a life boat. They ended up using this boat to search for an island. As their gear is beginning to run low, they become nervous.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
R.A.F.T. Peru
Role: Me
Audience: Mestizos
Format: Poem
Topic: Peru
Terraced hills, low clouds, and winding rivers,
Think of what happened to your land makes me quiver.
Cuzco used to be a great big city,
Now we look at it with pity.
The new place to go is Lima, Peru.
It is where Ernesto went in search of something new.
If I trekked like Che in mountain climbing boots,
I would certainly visit you to see the countries roots.
You have no respect from the rest of Peru.
Hopefully Ernesto will start this Cou.
Atleast, I know that your culture is lost,
The only question is at what cost?
Audience: Mestizos
Format: Poem
Topic: Peru
Terraced hills, low clouds, and winding rivers,
Think of what happened to your land makes me quiver.
Cuzco used to be a great big city,
Now we look at it with pity.
The new place to go is Lima, Peru.
It is where Ernesto went in search of something new.
If I trekked like Che in mountain climbing boots,
I would certainly visit you to see the countries roots.
You have no respect from the rest of Peru.
Hopefully Ernesto will start this Cou.
Atleast, I know that your culture is lost,
The only question is at what cost?
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