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.