Endurance: Part 7 and Epilogue

The Mountains of South Georgia

             In these chapters of Alfred Lansing’s novel Endurance, Shackleton’s crew, all twenty-eight men, was rescued at last. After arriving on South Georgia, Shackleton and the six others who had made the journey in the James Caird realized that some of them would have to journey through across the island in order to reach the whaling station and bring back help. Shackleton, Frank Worsley, and Thomas Crean decide to make the trip, and after overcoming many struggles, are successful in returning with a rescue boat. Sir Ernest Shackleton promised to rescue his crew, and that is exactly what he did. That quality of Shackleton, his ability to keep his word, amazed me throughout this entire novel. Whatever he said he would accomplish he did, and he never gave up. It took four rescue attempts and four different boats to retrieve the men stranded on Elephant Island, yet every time Shackleton gathered up a crew and set off to bring his men home. After facing a shipwreck, cracking ice flows, Antarctic storms, the Weddell Sea, and Drake’s Passage, I imagine that one would just want to go home and rest for possibly a year. Shackleton refused to wait though, and as soon as he had reached the whaling station, he was leaving to rescue his crew. He truly was a remarkable man.

The Yelcho, the ship that rescued the men stranded on Elephant Island.

The literary term epiphany is used by the author, Alfred Lansing, in these chapters of Endurance. Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean had just reached the whaling station on South Georgia Island that would provide relief, and they finally begin to comprehend what had just happened.

“In that instant, they felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. Though they had failed dismally even to come close to the expedition’s original objective, the knew now that somehow they had done much, much more than ever they set out to do,” (270).

The abandoned Stromness Whaling Station where Shackleton
found relief aid.

            In this passage from the novel Endurance, Shackleton and the two other men were safe, well-fed, and comfortable for the first time in years. They thought back to the original goal of the expedition though, and they realized that they did not even come close to accomplishing it. At this point, the men recognized, as the quote says, that they achieved so much more than they ever could have if the voyage had been successful. They created bonds with each other that could withstand an Antarctic winter, sail 800 miles in a twenty-two foot long boat, and trek across the unexplored inland of South Georgia, and they grew a greater respect for nature and the power that she really does hold.

Endurance: Part 6, Chapters 4-6

           Part six of the novel Endurance introduces the reader to the circumstances that Shackleton and the five other men aboard the James Caird, a twenty-two foot long boat, experienced. These chapters describe the second half of the crew’s journey through some of the most perilous waters on the planet. Although the hope of actually reaching land grew in the men, the situation on the boat was not one to envy. The reindeer sleeping bags that the men were using had previously rotted, but at this point, two were so deteriorated that they had to be thrown overboard. Also, the second water container that they had brought along had been contaminated, and the men were left with a shortage. Even when land came into view, the crew’s hopes of reaching it were diminished due to breaker waves, which would crush the Caird if it got to close. Even with nature working against them, the men were finally able to reach the shore. I took this voyage as a lesson in patience, hope, and perseverance. Without patience, none of the men who were a part of the Endurance crew, both those aboard the Caird and those back on Elephant Island, would have survived as long as they did. They very likely would have gone mad due to all of the waiting around, and that would have meant their downfall. The crew of the Endurance also possessed hope. Each man had something to look forward to, to desire, and the hope that they would acquire those things allowed them to prevail. Lastly, these men could teach anyone a lesson in perseverance. Too many times I have given up because something is too hard or too time consuming, but Shackleton and his men never did quit. They did in fact persevere, and that quality brought the men home again.

A Depicition of  the Mountains of Cape Demidov, South Georgia, behind the James Caird.

            One of the literary terms utilized by Alfred Lansing, the author, in these chapters of Endurance is flashback.

            “The second cask of water – the one that had got adrift during the launching of the Caird from Elephant Island – was foul,” (240).

            This quote tells of an earlier time when the crew of the Caird was leaving Elephant Island. One of their water containers had fallen into the sea, but the men had thought it was still sealed. The water had been tainted though, and that reduced the amount that the men could both drink and eat.

Endurance: Part 6, Chapters 1-3

Aron Ralston



These chapters from Alfred Lansing’s novel Endurance depict the harsh conditions and weather that the men aboard the James Caird were forced to conquer. The six crew members were completely soaked through, and the four hour shifts they took seriously threatened their lives. One of the jobs necessary to prevent the boat from sinking was chipping away at the ice that accumulated on the Caird. One could only last in this position for roughly five minutes before their hands would start to freeze, and then another crew member would take over. Also, any warmth or comfort that might have been found below the deck was out of the question. The ceiling was too low for a man to sit up straight, and the reindeer sleeping bags had begun to rot. The ability of these men to overcome their predicament and accomplishing whatever was necessary reminds me of Aron Ralston, a man who boasts another amazing survival story. Ralston, a mountain climber whose incident was recently made into the film 127 Hours, had been hiking in Utah when a boulder dislodged and fell on him, trapping his arm. Alert that no one was aware of his location, Ralston began to cut off his arm with a two inch knife in order to escape. He was successful in this endeavor and today he continues to climb mountains and gives speeches about his experience. Although Shackleton’s men were in a much different situation that Aron Ralston, both proved to have exceptional survival skills and the ability to do whatever it takes in order to survive.

One of the literary terms employed in this novel is concrete details. These details describe actual events, or aspects of these events.

“ ‘Monday, 24^th. April.

‘Wild Camp for Rating Chron. 192/262

‘Took departure in James Caird at 12-30 p.m. Steered N.N.E. 8 miles, then E. 1 mile to a break in the stream ice here running E and W

‘Wind: to 4 p.m. WNW 6 [approx. 30 MPH]…’

Worsley’s log,” (218).

            This quote is a real excerpt from the journal of Captain Frank Worsley of the Endurance. Worsley, a reliable source, explains through this passage the main event that took place on the day mentioned, allowing these observations to be considered concrete details.

Endurance: Part 5, Chapters 4-6

Frank Hurley in front of the crew's boat-tent
on Elephant Island.

          These chapters of the novel Endurance introduce the reader to the torment the men remaining on Elephant Island experienced. They awoke at dawn every morning with hope that they would be rescued, only to go to bed that evening exhausted and hopeless once more. As each day passes, they push the date that they believe they will be rescued back farther and farther, not wanting to think about the possibility that the James Caird and her passengers had been lost at sea. Although I have stressed the bravery of the crew of the Endurance in my other posts, there is an example of extreme bravery in these chapters. Perce Blackboro was a former castaway on the ship who became a steward. When the crew was traveling to Elephant Island in the boats, Blackboro’s feet had become terribly frostbitten. One of them was in such a dreadful condition that the only option was to amputate it. Dr. James A. McIlroy, a surgeon, slowly removed the foot after briefly knocking out Blackboro with the anesthetic chloroform. Although the surgery was successful, the crew had no pain medications, and the pain that Blackboro was in had to be unbearable. Amazingly though, he just smiled at the doctor and told him that he would really like a cigarette. In that situation, I am pretty sure that I would have not handled my foot being amputated the same way that Blackboro did. I do not ever remember being in extreme pain, but I have seen both of my parents after surgery and with proper medical care, and they looked miserable. The courage and bravery that it took for a man to not complain after an unorthodox amputation is truly astounding.

            One of the literary terms that is used in these chapters of the novel Endurance is anecdote.

            “As the temperature started to rise, Blackboro was lifted onto the operating table…The anesthetic was to be chloroform-not a very good anesthetic, especially close to an open fire. But it was all they had, and there were only 6 ounces of that. Macklin, who was to administer it, waited for the hut to get warm enough so that the chloroform would vaporize,” (206).

            An anecdote, or a brief narrative that focuses on a certain event, is used to describe the amputation of Blackboro’s foot. The anecdote allows readers to really understand the dangers behind this surgery and the risks that were being taken by both the surgeons and the patient. This passage from Endurance is only part of the anecdote about Blackboro’s surgery.

            This link is a video of Elephant Island, the island where the Endurance crew set up camp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuVrVUFesRY&feature=fvwrel

Endurance: Part 5, Chapters 1-3



The James Caird Setting Sail from Elephant Island



           These chapters of Alfred Lansing’s Endurance introduce readers to the inhospitable living conditions on Elephant Island. Although they were excited to finally be standing on solid ground again, the crew soon realized that the island was not going to be a paradise. Strong winds blew down from cliffs above their camp, causing the three boats to twist and turn. It was at this point that Shackleton made an announcement. He said that he and five other men would take the James Caird and sail towards South Georgia, an island 800 miles away from their current location, in order to find help. Although this journey was practically a death sentence, many men offered their assistance and five were chosen. Before the James Caird set sail, Shackleton had a conversation with second-in-command Frank Wild. He told him that from the moment he left, he was in charge, and that if Shackleton were to not return, Wild should do everything in his power to be rescued. As the six men disappeared into the ocean beyond, it really struck everyone that they might never see those people again. When I moved states ten years ago, I never really thought about never seeing certain people again, but recently, the realization that I have not seen so many people for so many years has hit me. I believe that Shackleton’s crew had a similar feeling; they just noticed it much earlier. Those six men had struggled to survive barren Antarctica with the rest of the party for two years, and they were as close to each other as one could get. Although numb from the freezing temperatures and treacherous conditions, the thought of never hearing from them again had a great impact on the crew.

The literary term simile is used by Lansing during these chapters. A simile is used to compare or relate two things, using the words “like” or “as.”

            “Moreover, an examination of the new campsite raised serious doubts about whether it had been worth the trouble to move. It was a rocky spit about thirty yards across, extending to seaward like a tongue stuck out from an enormous glacier 150 yards inland,” (185).

Lansing uses this simile to relate the appearance of the crew’s campsite to a tongue sticking out. This simile allows the reader to visualize what the camp looked like; a small, rocky beach jutting out from the glacier and cliffs above.

Endurance: Part 4

The James Caird, Dudley Docker, and Stancomb Wills
(the boats sailed by the crew of the Endurance)

           Throughout this section of Endurance, Shackleton’s crew was desperately attempting to survive the treacherous waters of the Antarctic. They only had three small boats, one of which was never meant to sail in conditions that they were tackling, to accommodate the twenty-eight men. For a total of five days, the explorers did not leave their boats, constantly rowing and steering for hours without a break. The captain, Frank Worsley, had been steering one of the boats the entire time and, when he tried to move, found he was stuck in a sitting position. Through all of the torture that the crew was enduring, they faced their predicament with outstanding courage and attentiveness, all except the motor expert, Thomas H. Orde-Lees. Orde-Lees had been a lazy annoyance the entire expedition, but when he was asked by Worsley to row for a while, he downright refused. The men finally made it to shore though, with out the help of Orde-Lees. Although in much less trying circumstances, I have had to deal with people similar to Orde-Lees. I have worked in groups to complete projects for both school and out of school activities, but there is always one person in the group who refused to work.

Elephant Island - The island where the crew landed.

I know how frustrating that is for me, but when twenty-eight people’s lives depend on each one of those people doing their job, a man like Orde-Lees could actually be a danger to everyone’s safety. Although the rest of my group and I can usually finish a project even if one person stops pulling their weight, it was vital that each man on Shackleton’s voyage participated.

One of the literary terms implemented in this section is pathos. Alfred Lansing, the author of Endurance, employed many details about what the crew was facing in order to gain pity from the reader.

“Shackleton, remembering his promise, urged Blackboro to jump ashore, but the lad failed to move…Impatiently, Shackleton took hold of him and lifted him over the side. Blackboro dropped to his hands and knees…

‘Get up,’ Shackleton ordered.                                                                                   

Blackboro looked up. ‘I can’t sir,’ he replied.

Shackleton suddenly remembered Blackboro’s feet. In the excitement of the landing he had forgotten, and he felt ashamed,” (174).



Perce Blackboro

            This passage from Endurance gives the reader an insight into what this expedition cost Blackboro. He could no longer walk because his feet had been so frostbitten, and it was likely that he would never walk again. Shackleton had forgotten this detail and announced that Blackboro would be the first ashore, and when he realized his error, he was ashamed. This excerpt causes the reader to feel pity for both Blackboro and Shackleton. Blackboro had joined the expedition as a stowaway with hopes of an adventure, and because of that, he lost his ability to walk. Sympathy is felt for Shackleton too, who had finally brought his crew to solid ground, but who did not fully realize the toll the travels had taken on the men.

Endurance: Part 3, Chapters 4-6

Sea Leopard

           These chapters of Alfred Lansing’s Endurance introduce the reader to even more dangers that Shackleton’s crew faced, including sea leopards, cracking ice, and starvation. The men faced each of these hazards with exceptional bravery, but each time one of the problems was taken care of, another would appear. This reminds me of the disasters that have plagued Japan recently. At first the country was struck with an earthquake in early March of this year, but even as relief aid began, the earthquake caused a tsunami that led to even more damage and chaos. Then, as these two disasters were being dealt with, nuclear explosions and leaks occurred at a power plant, further increasing the death toll to over 22,000 people. As one crisis was beginning to be repaired, another came and completely shattered all of the progress that had previously been made. Just as this happened recently in Japan, the same predicament arose almost 100 years ago in remote Antarctica among 28 stranded men.

Onomatopoeia, a word created from the replication of natural sounds, is one of the literary terms used by the author, in these chapters. Chunks of ice have slowly been breaking off of the ice floe that the crew has been living on, and Lansing uses onomatopoeia to share that experience of the crew with the reader.

            “Crack! Again the floe had split in two, this time exactly through the spot where Shackleton’s tent had stood some minutes before. The two halves drew rapidly apart, separating the Stancomb Wills and a large amount of provisions from the rest of the party,” (137).

            The ice floe on which Shackleton’s crew set up camp had been continuously breaking apart, but this time, the men could not work around the damage. There was barely any room left for the men on the floe, and the decision was made to climb into boats the crew had brought, even though the intense pressure of the ice could destroy them in seconds. The use of onomatopoeia to portray this dangerous event allows a reader to feel the shock of the breaking ice along with the crew.