Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

Consider the irregular methods by which Shackleton determined which of the 5,000 applicants for positions on the voyage would be hired. The author advises us that “If he liked the look of a man, he was accepted” (14). While this method was entirely antithetical to those touted as conventional screening practices, it was apparently successful: The ship was run by a determined, dedicated, and loyal crew. What might you infer about Shackleton’s personality and character as a result?

Consider the evacuation of the dogs intended for pulling sleds from the Endurance. Although the crew was a diverse group hailing from a variety of backgrounds, they melded well and created such a calm, organized environment that the animals calmly allowed themselves to be sent sliding down a canvas chute from the ship’s rail to the ice floe below. What factors might have been involved in creating such a sense of security?

The crew of the Endurance witnessed incredible natural spectacles over the course of their long, frozen journey. They named one of the ice floes “The Rampart Berg” due to its height of 150 feet and their speculation that it extended beneath the water to a depth of 1,000 feet. How does Lansing’s account balance an appreciation of the region’s natural wonders with recognition of its inhospitable environment?

There were very few cases of conflicts among the crew, despite the confinement they experienced during the polar night. What might have been some factors that would have allowed for such friendliness among the men in these stressful circumstances? In your opinion, was this the result of their natural dispositions, their thirst for adventure despite the danger, or the leadership on the Endurance?

The battering of the Endurance by the ice floes and its ensuing sinking are referenced repeatedly throughout the book via personification. The ice floe that protected the ship through months of entrapment is referred to as becoming an “attacker,” and the sounds of the sinking ship are noted to be like that of a “dying beast.” Why might Lansing describe events in this way? How does it contribute to a portrait of the crew’s psychological state?

After abandoning the Endurance, the men accommodated themselves to life on the ice floe very quickly. Is the ability to acclimate to adverse circumstances peculiar to the character type that would be interested in a voyage to the Antarctic, or is this a trait among humans in general?

Consider the extreme sense of loss experienced by all the men when the Endurance sank completely beneath the surface of the ice. In addition to having lost the possibility of salvaging more usable commodities from the battered ship, what other elements played into their reaction? What does Lansing suggest the Endurance symbolized to them?

In addition to the extreme weather conditions and constant fear of sudden death, the crew of the Endurance experienced the pangs of ongoing boredom. Reflect upon the psychological impact that an atmosphere close to that of a sensory deprivation experiment might have had upon the men, particularly when bad weather conditions confined them to their tents. How might this have influenced their capacity for cogent thought?