A few things stuck out to me in this chapter as the men continue their struggle for survival in Antarctica. First of all, Lansing comments on the men's attitude toward food. In his diary, Worsley wrote, "It is scandalous--all we live for and think of now is food. I have never in my life taken half such a keen interest in food as I do now--and we are all alike. We are ready to eat anything..." This attitude is evident in the fact that they begin to enjoy eating blubber when before they wouldn't touch it. I think this is something that happens to everyone when they are very hungry. Suddenly, things that didn't seem so appealing are delicious if they are the only thing available. Also, I think that when the body starts to need certain types of food, it begins to crave it. For example, the men are suddenly interested in blubber. Fat gives the body energy. The men don't eat as much as they used to and their body needs more energy. Therefore, the blubber is a valuable meal.

       Another scene that struck me was when the Endurance finally sank. I tried to put myself in the situation of these men. Yes, they had been stranded ever since they had to abandon her, but the fact that she was finally gone--lost from view--made me feel a new level of hopelessness for these men. Something about that loss of the only thing they had left attaching them to civilization. Although they could not have sailed the ship in its condition, it held within her a certain level of hope. Without her, I feel I would have fallen into despair. I admire the men for their courage in the face of a situation which could have been interpreted as a symbol of their ruin.

Endurance part 2

Section two of Endurance was such a relief compared to section one. I felt much more interested in what was happening, and could get through the section much faster. From reading some of the other posts it appears that others agree with me. I am happy to see that the characters in the book are still in good spirits ( as good of spirits as they can be, considering their situation). It is truly inspiring. Also, I think its interesting how the men can just pull it together under such immense difficult circumstances and get the work they need to get done finished. Its funny how no one really speaks or discusses the unfortunate aspects of their situation, but rather jumps in and does the work. There are so many reasons to complain and give up, but for the most part everyone is being very heroic, responsible, and dignified. What tremendous men! They really do show great motivation...can't wait for section 3.

Section 2

I really enjoyed this section of the book. I thought it was very interesting how much the sight of the boat affected the crew. Seeing the crashed boat everyday gave the crew members a sense of hope. They even talked about how it made them feel like they were invincible because the boat withstood so much. As soon as the boat went under, the crew moral took a dip. It was as if the crew lost some hope, and felt like they will go under as well.

            I thought it was very interesting how Shackelton handled his crew. Number one, he made sure to put people he thought could be a problem in specific tents. This was in an attempt to stop mutiny. Even when his one crew member started to display his fatigue, he laid down the rules and righted the moral. 

This section of Endurance was not only a lot easier to follow in my opinion, but also more interesting. When I finished reading tonight, I was almost tempted to read the next few chapters to see what happens to the crew (almost being the key term in that sentence). I find it amazing that through everything this crew has already been through they still manage to keep such high spirits, although it is obvious in the last section that it if finally beginning to wear on the crew, especially McNeish. You can tell how devastating this will be to the crew if this feeling of anxiety spreads throughout the men, because it said on page 78 that despite all the problems that they have/will see on this voyage, Shacketlton fears none more than demoralization of his men. This book is truly a tale of will, and the more I read this the more I am convinced that these are not average men. Despite what they are doing, being forced to stay in the tent, working all day, eating whale blubber, traveling all day only to be pushed back by night wings, whatever it may be they never complain and their high spirits just seem to be mind blowing. Although it is obvious that something bad is on the verge, and these men will definitely be tested (as if they haven't already) I for one am very curious to see how they respond to this adversary.

Section 2

In this section the men were out of  The Endurance and living out of tents and  make shift forts made out of whatever they could use from the ship. They also salvaged what they could from the ship to be used for other things such wood for a fire to cook meals.  Every day they would searh for any store they could use as it sank lower and lower until the water that quickly froze over. They had to live off of rations at first but quickly learned they could live off seals and penquins. By the end of this section they were looking forward to having enough food that they wouldn't have to live off rations. They were also looking forward to to find some kind of land However, the conditions were not looking favorable for this travel.The crew did not give up hope. They continued to stay positive and believe they would make it out of the situation they were in.

     As everyone else had mentioned this section of the book has definitely gotten easier to read.  I think that the suspense of their survival is what helps.  Once they accept that they must abandon ship to move on they all work together to keep one and others heads held high.  Working to move crates and supplies off the ship and onto survival was the first step to wondering if life on ice would last.  The men couldn't get anymore hungry which led to them eating blubber.  Shakleton, the leader of the expedition, considered himself to be one of the crew men.  He works right next to each one of the men in conditions he never saw coming.  Making sure that each member gets what they need to stay sane proves yet again how strong Shakleton is to have around.  Only having three boats left to travel in, and even watching the puppies die off he still moves on.  In the beginning of part one when he was choosing his crew, and even though it didn't take much to choose one man, all of these men are very similar.  Most of the men in their given circumstance are doing well.  Managing to keep a positive mind set, sleeping in tents in the freezing cold, sparing their supplies, and making the best of the only resources around them I am curious to know what major event will come next.

Endurance post 2

Section two of Endurance was a lot more interesting and easier to follow than the first section. There were a lot less sailing terms to follow. I liked how they went into exactly how the crew was going to attempt to survive. Shackleton also has a huge weight on his shoulders trying to keep the spirits up of his companions. All six chapters went in depth into the moral of each crew mate. Shackleton knew what each person needed to keep going and he was gonna try his hardest to keep everyone's thoughts positive.

However, you can tell there was still a lot of desperation throughout the crew. Before the ship sank, no one would've eaten blubber. They were very accustomed to their cozy rooms and their well cooked meals. Now most of the crew will gladly eat blubber to stay alive. Also, they continually go back to the ship for more supplies. I think thats a part of their fear of not having enough to survive.

Endurance: Post #2

      I first off wanted to say that the book has definitely gotten much more interesting and I no longer have to force myself to read it.  I would agree with Shackleton when he told the crew members that no article was more important then their survival.  On page 64 it says, "Shackleton pointed out that no article was of any value when weighed against their ultimate survival, and he exhorted them to be ruthless in ridding themselves of every unnecessary ounce, regardless of its value."  When all is said and done their own safety and survival is above everything else.  I will say that I was surprised that Shackleton threw out the Bible that Queen Alexandra had given him and left it in the snow.  The book states, "it was a dramatic gesture, but that was the way he wanted it."  I was curious as to why Shackleton chose to tear out the one page from the Book of Job with the following verse on it: "Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of Heaven, who hath gendered it?  The waters are hid as with a stone.  And the face of the deep is frozen."
      It was so sad to read about the dogs that were killed in Chapter 1 of this section.  I am an animal lover and dogs are my favorite so I definitely didn't enjoy reading that part. Shackleton ordered the three youngest puppies to be killed along with an older puppy from a different litter.  The author couldn't just say that the puppies were killed, but instead he mentioned that they were taken a distance from the camp and shot to death.  On page 66 it mentioned that Macklin's duty was to destroy Sirius and that he could hardly face his task.  It was such a sin that the puppy was jumping up wagging his tail and trying to lick Macklin's hand but yet he still had to finish him off. 
      McNeish wrote:  "Hog-many (the Scottish feast of New Year's) and a bitter one too, being adrift on the ice instead of enjoying the pleasures of life like most people.  But as the saying is, there must be some fools in this world." As unfortunate as their current situation is on their journey, McNeish is right when he mentioned there must be some fools in this world.  In other words, someone has got to do it and along with pleasure comes pain but I'm sure the reward in the end will outweigh all of the obstacles they have faced.  On page 97 it says that Shackleton wrote, "The last day of the old year: May the new one bring us good fortune, a safe deliverance from this anxious time and all good things to those we love so far away."  I'm anxious to read on and find out exactly what is in store for their journey in the new year. 
  

Post #2, Section #2 of Endurance

In the second section of Alfred Lansing's, Endurance, many things happened to the crew that one would assume would cause them to lose all hope.  Surprisingly, the majority of the men continued to have faith and showed little sign of discouragement.  In the start of this section, the men are traveling by foot across distances as far as New York to Pittsburgh, tugging the large amount of what was left of the ship.  Their typical dish consisted of seal blubber, something sounding far from appetizing.  To me, I would find it hard to keep my head up in this kind of a scenario but somehow they all manage to keep smile's on their faces.  At this point, they are sleeping in tents some even in the snow.  Not only are they not sad but they are happy even given their circumstances. 

It goes on to describe the personalities of the men individually, proving that it was possible to have flaws even with such outstanding optimism.  Shackleton was described as having this underlying fear of losing control, he looked at it as, him getting them into that situation which meant it was his responsibility to get them out.  Hudson was insecure yet self centered and oblivious to when he was being teased.  James was smart but in a book smart way that showed he was sheltered from being street smart and handy.  Shackleton carefully examined all these men so as to avoid any issues between the personalities he assigned them different tents. 

It was rare that the men talked about sex or anything other than survival and food for that matter.  All that was on their minds was the hunger they were experiencing.  Most of them noted in their journals that food became something that was all they could think about.  They killed seals mostly, but usually by hand since they were using the bullets in the rifle sparingly.  None of them were able to bathe but some men would use the snow to wipe off their face, some would keep the dirt using it as a defense against frostbite. 

In my opinion, one of the most significant things that happened throughout this section, was the Endurance sinking.  The men felt like that was the only thing left that tied them to civilization.  The presence of the Endurance could have been one of the aspects of why they had such optimism during the time leading up to the sinking of the ship.  It could have been the reason why they stayed sane.  This section showed a lot of strength among the men, enduring what they had to endure yet still keeping a positive outlook.  Motivation is what keeps them alive, motivation to live.

Endurance post 2

After reading section one of Endurance I really didn't know if I was going to be interested in reading about the rest of the book.However, once I read the second section my mind changed. This section you see a lot of the true colors come out of the men especially Shackleton. I thought it was ironic that just last class we were talking about the way food can alter your mind when you are hungry. When i was reading chapter 2 it said something about the only thing they could really think about was food, they were even talking about eating blubber. I can't even imagine being stuck on a boat with others relying on blubber of animals  so I don't starve. The thought of this makes me cringe, and I think all of these men are definitely brave for going on this journey!

Endurance Post 2

The second part of the book is where the story really starts to pick up speed. When this part starts, the crew seem to still possess their motivation; they're conditions are slowly becoming worse and worse, yet they are handling it pretty well. Despite having to leave Endurance, the Shackleton and the crew remain in good spirits and seem to still have a lot of morale. It's very apparent how great of a leader Shackleton is. He always what he thinks is best for the entire crew, and this usually leads to positive results. Despite being in charge of the expedition, he remains humble and considers himself to be one with the crew.

As part two begins to come to a close however, Shackleton begins to become concerned that their current conditions are affecting the crew in a negative way. They are starting to lose their optimism and Shackleton wishes they still had their high morale intact. Their motivation as a whole is still present, although it is dwindling slightly. The crew is sure to encounter many more obstacles and hardships, so I think it will be intersting to observe they way the characters are motivated, and how this changes, throughout the remainder of the book.

Endurance Post 2

The second part was much more interesting than the first. Though the crew had worked relentlessly, trying their best to save Endurance in the first part, their true ordeal and hardship started in the second part as they try to make their way across the ice to the nearest possible civilization. They were allowed to take minimum personal items, such as socks, boots, a sleeping bag, and the only clothing was the one they were wearing (64).  Even though Shackleton ordered the crew to leave their personal belongings behind, none of the crew members uttered objections. All of them understood that they could only take the most valuable equipment needed to survive on the ice-bound sea. What I found admirable was the way the crew members look up to Shackleton, trusting and respecting his decisions at every turn. Shackleton is a very strong and motivating figure. Though he is the leader, he goes out of his way to perform menial chores like the rest as well. He prefers to be treated as they would treat any other crew members. However much he tries though, he will remain the authority and be burdened with the responsibility that position entails, and all of the crew likes him as he is.

Despite their dire situation, the crew remained optimistic. Macklin wrote, “It has been a lovely day, and it is hard to think we are in a frightfully precarious situation” (Lansing 69). This was true for all of the crew. They remained surprisingly happy and cheerful, even though they knew that they had no chance of being rescued. Their willpower throughout the journey is remarkable and motivating. They performed their tasks and duties jubilantly in the morning, and made the most of their evenings by activities such as reading, playing cards, or bridge.

Even after Endurance sank, the men still showed optimism. They went on with their tasks and remained strong despite their circumstance. However, as they leave Ocean Camp and head out west and matters get worse, their determination begins to dissolve.  The crew is trying to hold on to their motivation of survival, but the worsening condition of the ice is gnawing at their resolve. For example, at one point, McNeish refused to go on saying that he was “under no obligation to obey orders” (94). Though Shackleton handled the situation well, it does give him a sense of foreboding as it is becomes clear that the crew is only holding on to their motivation by a thread. However, part 2 still ends on a positive note as Shackleton hopes for good fortune.

Endurance Post 2

After reading the first section of Endurance I was not quite sure if I would really enjoy this book. As everyone has mentioned it did start out slow. However the second part seemed to pick up the tempo significantly. After Shackleton's Endurance is scrapped I was astonished at how loyal these men were (I guess they really had no other option at this point). The men work tirelessly for Shackleton moving crates and boxes of supplies from the wreck and onto ice. I am amazed at how they used the massive and chilly ice as a camp site. The men must have been freezing and not to mention extremely hungry. As the men manage to save a decent amount of food and three boats, I wonder how more of them did not question their decision to make this insane trip. At this point in the book many of the men seem to be holding onto their motivation. Is that smart or illogical? I guess we will find out more as we read. The idea that the men must make a trip to Paulet Island with only three boats and as little supplies as necessary is quite a challenge. This section was much better than the first and begins to set the scene for the rest of the adventure.

Motivation: Endurance Post #2

     I am happy to say that this book is finally picking up. I found this second section much more interesting and therefore easier to read. It seems that despite the crew having to abandon the ship and live on the ice that their motivation level has yet to decrease. The crew were well aware of the hardships that would come along with having to travel 346 miles across the ice but this did not discourage them.  "Nevertheless, there was a remarkable absence of discouragement." (pg. 63) This is truly amazing to me. These men were forced out on to the ice with little supplies and even at the beginning this is how they felt. "It was quite enough to be alive and they were merely doing what they had to do to stay that way." (pg. 64) They knew their purpose and they stuck to it.
   As the chapters progress, the men end up setting up Ocean Camp and they are thrown into a routine which comforts pretty much all of them. Shackleton becomes worried that the men are too comfortable but he is glad to see that his crew is generally in good spirits. After the crew set up Ocean Camp, they make multiple trips back to the Endurance to retrieve multiple things such as the third boat, more food, and personal belongings. At the end of chapter 4, the Endurance is finally overtaken by the ice and sinks. Even after the crew's final tie to civilization is gone, they are not upset by it. "But the reaction was largely a sentimental one, as after the passing of an old friend who had been on the verge of death for a long time." (pg. 84) The men really seem to enjoy their time on the ice. They signed up for this voyage because they all sought adventure. Macklin comfirms this when he writes in his diary: "Really this sort of life has its attractions." (pg. 85) The men have all managed to look at the good rather than the bad in their situation. With a decent load from the Endurance, they have plenty of food, shelter, and even games.
     It is not until the end of chapter 5 that Shackleton begins to worry about his crew succumbing to demoralization. At this point, time has begun to weigh heavy on the crew and Shackleton is well aware of this. Section two ends with a few diary entries about the New Year. Most of these entries seem somewhat disheartened but also hopeful for the following year. The crew is obviously not happy about how far they have gotten in the amount of time that they have been on the ice but this does not keep them from hoping and striving towards a better new year.

Endurance Part Two: Living on the Ice

I had to go back and read Part Two a second time because I could tell I was still having trouble associating the characters.  I keep focusing on Shackleton and processing what the other characters are doing and what they do to contribute to the story, but I am having trouble remembering who is who. 

In going back a second time, I was able to see more of the dynamic that keeps them going.  The characteristics that Shackleton chose them for are still evident – need to adventure, light-heartedness, etc.  I think that most importantly, they were still optimistic.  When the ship was abandoned, the men went on with regular business without needing authoritative guidance.  They knew their task; they were unaffected by their circumstances and set their goals on travelling 346 miles northwest.  One might think that personal affects and sentimental belongings would have been the stable basis of optimism and cheer; however, even after having to leave behind their unessential baggage, their morale did not waver.  Not even having to kill the pups and their one cat discouraged them.  Had I been in their shoes, I probably would have lost the will to forge ahead. 

Camp was a new and challenging environment.  The days of the Ritz were over, but again, the men adapted and made the best of it through fun, comradery, and enthusiasm.  Food was another story.  As we discussed in class and in the text, our bodies can hit a certain threshold of hunger where all we can think about is food.  This is what happened to the men.  To alleviate this problem they went out and fervently hunted seals (more brutal ways of taking them out than before) and returned to the Endurance to get whatever supplies they could.  This helped keep the men sustained.

Despite all of the opportunities for the crew to have turned to mutiny or dissonance, they continued to get along quite well.  There were, of course, some hiccups.  Orde-Lee became obsessed with the food supply – perhaps his incentive was food as a mechanism of survival.  McNeish snapped during the journey from Ocean Camp.  He just stopped and refused to go further even though his striking away from the group would result in his untimely death.  Others, like Hurley, had little quirks and such that made the environment a little more tense.  To counteract these individuals, Shackleton took precautions such as separating certain men or creating circumstances, however slight, that would improve their morale.  Shackleton was strategic about this and his actions mirrored his extreme worries over the crew losing sight of their goals and sense of hope.

Motivation is seen throughout the whole section of the book.  Shackleton who just forges forward relentlessly.  His crew, seeing his exterior presentation, also drove forward.  It became a matter of the little things that made the days go by and the experience less traumatic.    Even without the Endurance, the crew seemed to be capable of connecting to reality.  The Endurance had been an anchor, but they were able to take the lifestyle and attitudes on the ship with them onto the floes.  I really don’t know if I can put my finger on how they managed to stay motivated.  I think it’s something very complicated and beyond the general dispositions of the crew and Shackleton.

Part 1

Shackleton shows motivation in his journey, alone. In setting a goal to walk across Antarctica from coast to coast shows how motivation is well needed to succeed. Creating a journey and having men willing to dive into his goal shows how much you have to depend on your crew to get farther and result in success. In Shackleton’s expedition, it is shown how they each motivate each other and believe that with the right ‘push’ and drive, they can be strong enough to make it through.

I also believe that the ship, “Endurance” has a motivating meaning because endurance is defined by “the ability to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue”. This explains the ship perfectly! It takes much motivation for anyone or in this case, anything, to have endurance. ‘Endurance’ and the collision with icebergs on multiple occasions portrayed how motivation to stay alive was much of a necessity in the expedition.

I think that motivation in the broad sense is shown in his plan of the expedition itself and everything the crew and the ship endured exemplified the meaning of motivation.

Endurance: Part 2

Since the crew was ordered to leave Endurance they were forced to sleep in tents and some on the snow.  Their orders entailed that they were allowed to bring 2 pounds of personal items, six pairs of socks, two pairs of mittens, a sleeping bag, and a pound of tobacco. Shackleton wrote in his journal, “I pray to God I can manage to get the whole party safe to civilization” (Lansing 65). He did a great job seeing that the crew’s spirits are still high and they continue to play card games like bridge for enjoyment.  This would be very difficult for me to stay positive. They were doing what they needed to do to stay alive. The crew began to live just for food.  At one point when McNeish was put in charge, they pried a hole in the deck and barrels of food began to float up like walnuts, sugar, baking soda, vegetables, and barley. This was all brought to camp and it was determined that the crew could have full rations for the next two months. I think the barrels of food found will ease their anxiety a little bit about food. Shackleton was more aware of his crew’s personalities than I thought. He purposely would place some in separate tents because too much interaction between them could cause conflict. I feel that is a great idea because the last thing the crew needed was to verbally or physically fight with one another.

Unfortunately, the crew had to painfully watch Endurance be picked up and then submerged into the water. That was their only symbol of civilization and it was destroyed right in front of them. However, the full rations of food will hopefully help keep their spirits up. On top of that, they are about to retreat.  I hope Shackleton is right and the New Year brings them good fortune.

Endurance: the beginning

For the book, Endurance, we divided into groups of six and we each had different chapters that we had to read and come up with Q&A's that could possibly be on the test. I chose the first group because i just wanted to get it over with and i have a problem with memory, so i didnt want to forget to do my questions. Anyways, i found the book really boring. Its about a journey and sailors. My group had chapters 1-8. I had chapter 5. All they really did in my chapter was introduce many characters. When we presented our questions, some say they were too hard, but c'mon they were right from the passage.

first blog: tardiness

This class is great. I love my professor. He is cool and the lesson is less boring because he applies everyday examples to the words and lessons he teaches. For example first class i learned the difference between a motive and an incentive. I thought it was pretty cool how we didnt just learned the words but also discussed the difference and had many different examples of each. Also we have a book titled "Endurance" that i must purchase. I have no idea whats its about but i hope it's interesting and enjoyable.

First Post/ Endurance 1

After reading the first part of Endurance and continuing onto part 2 I hope the book becomes a little more interesting. The characters however, especially Shackleton and Black Borrow, seem to add substance to the book and keep me interested. I hope to see how motivation begins to enter the premise of the book as we continue reading. I am also looking forward to seeing what types of people the crew turns out to be and what motivates each individual person (whether it be honor, financial success, or just love of adventure). Certainly Shackleton seems to be the driving force behind the crew, as he is captain, but I am also anxious to see who else steps up and tries to motivate the crew through what seems to be a story about an extremely difficult struggle ahead. The story though dull at the moment is obviously an excellent choice for this class. I am sure we are all about to learn and read an incredible story that depicts men from many different walks of life coming together under one leader for the pure thrill and heartache of motivation.