Thursday, November 15, 2012

Post # 5



In the beginning of the section they are exhausted, frost bitten, and soaked with water. However, I was so happy for them when the sun came out and they received hot milk. There are also penguins, seals basking in the sun, and other animals there with them. Shackleton at this point found a sense of accomplishment to be standing on land with his men.  They have killed seals and ate as many steaks as each man could until they were completely full.  They are drying clothes and constantly eating which I feel they absolutely deserve the feeling of happiness, and enjoyment for once.
The most demoralizing prospect for the men is the fact that they had to move again when they are still crippled from sleeping in the boats. They left the next morning and during their trip they hit terrible weather. From rowing the boat Macklin’s hands are turning white from frost bite. In the end, they made it to the land safely regardless of the harsh winds. The tents all ended up being blown away so they were forced the sleep on the ground again. What I found awful was there frostbitten hands had to skin the penguins but the penguins warmth is what saved their hands. Eventually, an announcement was made that Shackleton will be sending five men to South Georgia for some relief. He chose Crean, McNeish, Vincent, and McCarthy. Shackleton had written letters explaining what to do if he does not make it. He placed Wild in full command once the boats launched.  Twenty two men stayed behind.  They all got together and made a hut for shelter. If they’re going to survive they need the best shelter possible. One amazing thing they did was make a flame from the blubber oil and draped surgical bandage over the edge. They also keep imagining what each would want to eat which I think is good motivational to keep going. This can enable them to keep trying to survive to reach their goal of survival and their food. The men are also developing terrible physical problems. For example Macklin has gangrene on his foot. They knocked his unconscious with chloroform and cut his toes off. This part was hard for me read.
In the end, Shackleton has been gone for 99 days. Macklin is surprising me because they just cut off his foot and he still says that Shackleton is coming back. He hasn’t totally lost hope yet. I feel as if the rest of the men towards the very end are starting to slightly give up hope and feel they shouldn’t deceive themselves anymore.  If I could, I would send them a boat and go save the men.

5 comments:

  1. reading about cutting off his toes was also difficult for me to read. I could never imagine that even being an option if I was one of the men. If i was the one cutting the toes off or getting my toes off I would have flipped out either way.

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  2. The surgeries that are performed on this journey are nothing short of amazing...The conditions and lack of supplies just make you think of the extreme agony one had must have endured

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  3. The part where Blackboro lost his foot was sad and difficult for me to read. It was truly awful to think about under what conditions the surgery had to be performed. And though it must have been painful for Blackboro, when he regained consciousness, he did not even utter a single word of pain. The way the men worked together and performed the surgery was admirable.

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  4. I agree with everyone. I could not even imagine getting my toes cut off and furthermore, getting that surgery done in those conditions!

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  5. It was amazing to think that the men were capable of doing such surgeries to begin with but to be able to somewhat survive and recover is mind blowing!

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