Endurance - Part I, Chapter 1

Alfred Lansing's novel Endurance begins with the ship of the same name sinking.  Ernest Shackleton, the vessel's captain, has given the order to abandon ship.  After a three-day long battle on the harsh seas and ice of the Weddell Sea, the Endurance is merely moments from collapsing.  While the crew knows they are in great danger, many also feel relieved and safe.  Shackleton in particular does not agree with these emotions.  Lansing writes, "The general feeling of relief at being off the ship was not shared by one man -- at least not in the larger sense" (8).  The contrast in feelings between Shackleton and the crew really jumped out at me while reading this chapter.  Most of the ship's men were elated that they were able to escape the Endurance alive.  Shackleton, however, had a very different outlook.  He knew that just because they escaped, they weren't out of the proverbial woods just yet.  He knew that in order to get back to safety, they would have to overcome even greater hardships and trials.  Lansing does a great job of showing juxtaposition in the different viewpoints and sets the dramatic tone for the rest of the novel with this opening chapter.