Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Food
Since we live a society and country where food is not an issue for most, it is hard to imagine what it means to truly be hungry. I once participated in an activity when I was in middle school where we ate the average meal of people from impoverished nations around the world. I was lucky enough to get africa so my dinner that night consisted of a few pieces of okra, cornmeal paste, and a half glass of water. Basically what I took out of it was that I know what it feels like to experience an uncomfortable lack of food, but not true hunger. I can't even begin to imagine the psychological stress that the hunger and confinement the men on the Endurance had to face once they became trapped. The stress caused by killing the dogs and simply surviving each day must have been simply intolerable for the men. I found myself trying to empathize with the men in this book more than any other that we have read so far. To me, they seem more human and real, with personality and vices that make them much easier to relate to.
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This has also been my favorite narrative so far, although it's hard for me to separate how much of it is the actual adventure and how much is the writing style. The idea that food, or lack there-of, can cause death not only in poverty but in a constructed adventure is new. Today in my Devils and Deities class we were in the middle of a discussion when our teacher suddenly brought up whether one character was a hero. He went on to ask the class how we defined hero. One person automatically said, and everyone else quickly agreed without any thought to the matter, that a hero is defined by someone who brushes up against death. I just smiled to myself, and made a mental note to blog about it. With this description, everyone we have read about is a hero. With this description people starving would be a hero. It basically just reminded me why we have words like this, and why language is so interesting-- there are so words that are almost impossible to define.
ReplyDeleteIn response to these characters having a clearer voice and personality, and the ease with which you were able to relate to the men Matt, see Caroline's post.
ReplyDeleteSarah - I'm surprised that everyone in your class agreed with that definition of "hero." I think there is a difference between a daredevil and a hero, and that difference lies in the motivation for risking one's life. I've always thought of a daredevil as someone who confronts danger for the challenge or the thrill and a hero as someone who puts themselves at risk for the sake of something outside of themselves. Of course, there is some crossover. One could argue, for instance, that Shackleton embarked on his voyage for the personal challenge but that, when the Endurance sinks, he takes on the role of the hero in his tireless efforts to save his men. Or, perhaps certain heroic acts require daredevil tendencies. Also, I would argue that a hero does not always have to put life at risk but that there must be the risk of some sort of personal sacrifice involved.
ReplyDeleteAlso, with regards to food, I found the dog shooting/eating scenes incredibly disturbing. But, the men's attitudes towards the dogs is very telling of the psychological strain experienced by the expedition members. At first, when their outlook does not appear too desperate, the men are appalled by the idea of eating the dogs. After all, the men have essentially adopted the dogs as pets. However, as the men get hungrier the men begin to view the dogs more as objects than companions. They become part of the supply list, to be used however they best maximize the men's survival chances. When they eat their first two dogs, the men refer to the dogs by name, and it does not seem to disturb them. The transformation of the men's attitudes towards the dogs reminds me of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. When the men have sufficient food supplies and feel relatively safe, they are more likely to foster and value a connection with the dogs. However, when food becomes scarce, the threat of starvation consumes their thoughts. In such a desperate situation, the men cannot afford to concern themselves with their personal relationship with the dogs.
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