Endurance, SECTION 5: Part 3, Ch 1-3

Many crew members watched as the last of the Endurance
went underwater

            As the perilous journey continues, men really begin to be realistic about the situation they were involved in. At the mercy of the wind and weather, food  supply began to dwindle. As a result, four of the six sledge teams were killed in an attempt to save as much food as possible. This act of killing what they had come to love was a real eye opener for many people as to how their situation had continued to worsen. Their luck does change for the better, though, when a strong wind came and pushed them toward land and close enough to recover the boat they had left behind. Food also became more available in their new location. With this new, short stroke of luck, the morale is boosted a bit, giving the crew a little more to look forward to, and a better chance of survival.

            The literary term that best applies to this section is hyperbole. During the long time of waiting to see when and how to make their next move, Shackleton wrote in his diary in the space allotted for the entire day, “Waiting, waiting, waiting.” This emphasizes the seriousness of their situation and how the crew is struggling to show patience toward each other.

These signs are sometimes up for years before the
house finally sells, forcloses, or goes off the market.

            In relation to today’s world, I feel this section relates to many people who are waiting for something and losing patience all the while. A great example of this is the market in terms of houses and buying and selling them. Many people have their houses on the market for years, patiently waiting for the economy to pick up so their house will sell. Unfortunately, many people struggle with this, and there is no clear ending in the near future for many families, just as the crew in the novel was waiting for an end to their bad luck and struggle. Lansing describes the crew’s demeanor by saying, “The sense of immediacy gradually diminished, and the atmosphere in camp settled once more into reluctant resignation.” Families often get the same feeling when they want to move but their house won’t sell; they feel discouraged just as Shackleton and his men do after months of waiting for weather to clear.