[Lansing] (Endurance) Part Two: Adapt (Vocabulary Word: Irony)

The crew of the Endurance is now stranded on the ice with no hope of rescue unless they move to a remote island. In one fell swoop, the crew was forced to adapt to everything the inhospitable ice floe gave them. For all practical purposes, one would believe that the crew would be extremely demoralized and paralyzed by fear. Shackleton now bears the burden of leading the men to safety, but the crew was able to adapt quickly to their new home as well as maintain a modicum of morale. This definitely shows a striking irony that either promotes the grit of the crew or their inattentiveness to the harrowing journey ahead. Macklin wrote an entry in his journal depicting a general sense of their new lifestyle: "Really, this sort of life has its attractions... I read somewhere that all a man needs to be happy is a is a full stomach and warmth, and I begin to think it is nearly true. No worries, no trains, no letters to answer, no collars to wear--"

Macklin tells of simplicity and that the bare essentials are what really satisfies a person. From what I've seen lately, there is a societal need to keep busy with something, communicate instantly, and constantly be on the move. When traumatic events occur or danger is sensed, that business becomes secondary to human instinct. One such example is being at the top of roller coaster, and having a subsequent clearing of the mind to focus on surviving the ride. After the ride is over, the mind is clear and relaxation becomes the primary feeling. Macklin and the rest of the crew no longer have to worry about the business of their lives or the bureaucracy behind the expedition in pleasing their benefactors. They have endured the traumatic experience of losing their ship, reoriented their minds to suit their current condition, and now focus on surviving in a bitterly freezing wasteland.