The saying "Time waits for no one" applies to last-minute hesitancy in facing a situation that requires a decision. In many cases, Shackleton and his crew faced both situations that required exact timing and situations where they could do nothing but wait, hoping that nothing terrible would strike them in a time of vulnerability. Living conditions varied as well, ranging from the optimistic living at Ocean Camp to the misery of sailing to Elephant Island. Lansing changes the mood of the narration according to the conditions the crew was facing. One example of the notion of defeat is denoted in the opening paragraphs of part three when Patience Camp was established: "Many of them, it seemed, finally grasped for the first time just how desperate things really were. More correctly, they became aware of their own inadequacy, of how utterly powerless they were... Shackleton strove so unceasingly to imbue them with, a basic faith in themselves."
For some, the conditions did not matter. Shackleton was described as extremely optimistic along with other crewmembers, such as McCarthy during the voyage to South Georgia in part six, but there were also pessimists, such as Orde-Lees, who gave consideration to the possible reality that one of Shackleton's audacious plans had failed, especially on Elephant Island. Is self-confidence, the basic faith in oneself, related to this idea that some had inextinguishable optimism or pessimism?
The concept of accepting oneself entirely is difficult to find. Having confidence in one's own abilities creates an inspirational work ethic that creates the willpower needed to push further, harder, and more consistently. It is the suppression of this individuality that creates a lulling society where everyone is expected to be similar. One type of archetypal plot is how the actions of one unique individual or a group of unique individuals stands up against the monotonous world in which they live. Ayn Rand's Anthem, George Orwell's 1984, and Isaac Asimov's I, Robot all center around the protagonist fighting against innumerable odds to re-establish liberty and freedom. The video above is a scene from Irobot that tells why the robots show human qualities, including "seeking out the light." Is this the same optimism that Shackleton seeks to imbue in his crew? It is a drive to improve their current condition, no matter the cost.
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