Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

The crew’s journey from the moment they become stuck in the ice is a test of patience. When the Endurance sinks, this test dramatically intensifies as their voyage turns to one of survival. The fact that they are “alive and well” (50), as Shackleton observes after the ship goes down, keeps them motivated through the dire circumstances that follow.

However, the crew’s endurance is not just exhibited through their calm and collected attitude, but also through their ability to handle loss, pain, and continuous discomfort. The men display integrity and compassion when they part with most of their belongings, including the many animals that are on board the ship, whom they are regularly forced to kill. Once the ship sinks, Shackleton makes it clear that they can only bring essential items going forward by dropping “his gold cigarette case and a handful of gold coins” into the snow to leave behind (51). They can only survive if they embrace the bare minimum, which they all willingly do.

As they make their way out of the Antarctic, the men also endure extreme physical hardship. They experience frostbite, saltwater boils, cramping, and dehydration, among other ailments. They often cry, but they rarely complain, and they never give up.