“No matter what the odds, a man does not pin his last hope for survival on something and then expect that it will fail.”
The narrative encompasses the strength of the human spirit in the face extreme adversity in this case, nature. The dangerous voyage sees Shackleton and his crew take risky chances in the name of exploration showing their resilience and tenacity. The quotation expresses how the crew goes to great lengths to ensure their last hope is indeed successful. In that to ensure survival, there is no room for doubt especially when there are fewer options.
“In all the world there is no desolation more complete than the polar night. It is a return to the Ice Age— no warmth, no life, no movement. Only those who have experienced it can fully appreciate what it means to be without the sun day after day and week after week.”
The assertion illustrates the extreme weather and conditions that the crew has to endure in Antarctica. They come face to face with their own mortality on a constant basis therefore the story is mostly about survival. The more they navigate the treacherous conditions the more they become resilient and explore farther. They take a chance by risking death to complete their mission showcasing the heart of the narrative which is endurance.
