Imagine being in agony while having to travel hundreds of miles in the cold for science. A high number of people would almost certainly give up, and let nature win the battle. However, Douglas Mawson was one of the few who kept hope, and refused to give up. Mawson went through many life threatening scenarios while exploring uncharted territory in Antarctica. The scenarios included frost bite, loss of resources, no shelter, and more. The article “Into the Unknown” showed that Mawson battled many more struggles for science research then Henrietta Lacks and Phineas Gage. Mawson's mission was to gather in a team, and explore the areas of Antarctica that have not been researched. Mawson completed his mission, however came back at the end by himself. …show more content…
The mission was placed in Antarctica,and because of the climate it was harder then usual to keep warm. However, Mawson and his team were caught up in a dilemma of losing most of their dogs to pull the sled ,and some resources to have a protected shelter. Mawson nearly starved to death, and had frostbite multiple times.In addition, Mawson fell off of an edge, almost falling to his death. Despite all he went through he decided it was best to keep going. He pulled himself up to safety. However, Mawson did not just keep going for himself. He knew there was a team of scientists counting on him to bring his research to them. Furthermore, Mawson not only tried to save himself constantly he also did not want to leave without his friend a quote from the article that showed this is“If he cannot go on 8 or 10 miles a day, in a day or two we are doomed. I could pull through myself with the provisions at hand but I cannot leave him.” Unlike Phineas Gage and Henrietta Lacks, Mawson voluntarily traveled to Antarctica for research knowing the dangers and sacrifices he would have to make. Overall, Mawson completed his mission, and the scientists got the research they needed to help people find more answers about …show more content…
After all, a pole did go through his head, and he was kind enough to share his experience with science. However, he did not volunteer, his experience just happened out of nowhere, it was a one time experience for him, and he was fine in the end. In addition, Henrietta Lacks was not alive while scientists were researching her. She had a rough life before she got cancer, and she sadly lost the battle. Furthermore, sadly multiple people go through cancer, and it is not rare, she did not go through more struggles then Mawson for science research. Both Gage and Lacks did not experience multiple life threatening situations. They also did not lose multiple loved ones such as people and animals. Another difference would be they both did not travel thousands of miles to a different part of the world, then walk hundreds of miles for research. In addition to this Mawson had to face the fear of not knowing if he was going to make it back to where he started. In brief, Gage and Lacks had a great impact on science research, but their experiences could not compare with Mawson's
An essential part of Krakauer's argument rests upon convincing the reader that he has the authority to accurately interpret the facts of McCandless’s life. His attempt begins in chapter fourteen, where his main focus is explaining why he thinks McCandless did not go to Alaska seeking death. Krakauer establishes his credibility by drawing upon his own experiences and comparing them to McCandless’s. “If something captured my undisciplined imagination, I pursued it with a zeal bordering on obsession...” (134). This passion, he believes, is the same feeling McCandless felt while traveling across the country. At age 23, only a year younger than McCandless at the time he went to Alaska, Krakauer's preferred thrill was mountain climbing (135). During ...
...and the great scientific achievements that followed were very interesting to me and very well written by Rebecca Skloot. But what made it all so real for me, was the personal story of Henrietta and her family. The frustration of the family and the lack of information that was given by the scientists really made me angry. These people suffered from so much injustice, why did no one made a small effort to explain it to them all? Reading about the health problems The story of the Lackes really visualizes the problems in science before, and the need to resolve them. In the end, the most important lesson learnt is that human tissue used for research shouldn’t be used in such a materialistic way, but it should be handled with in a respectful and ethical way.
He had a thrill for adventure. If Jans theory of Christopher McCandless to be mentally ill or suicidal was correct he would not have reached out for help when he became sick and near death. “S.O.S I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out of here. I am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Christ McCandless. August?” (pg. 12) McCandless wrote this letter when he was near death, he also left a handmade signal flag out of a red knitted leg warmer that was knotted to the end of an alder branch by the bus’s rear exit. This proves that McCandless was not suicidal because if he was he would not have ever tried to reach out for help, instead he would not do anything to make sure he did
One important part was in the seventh paragraph. It is talking about how Nini’s died by falling down a huge crevasse. It says, “There was no sign of Ninnis or the sledge.” (“Into the Unknown”). In Lacks’ story she was already dead so we don't know about the physical adversities she went through before she died. Second most important, Mawson had to bury his friend who was the only other person with him on the journey. In the 17th paragraph his says, “Mawson buried his friend, still in the sleeping bag,” so Mawson had to go through the horror of burying his friend (“Into the Unknown”). Lastly, many times Mawson said that this was the end and he was going to die. Just imagine you being in this situation and putting yourself in his
He ventures into merciless terrain of Alaska and unfortunately, as he was not adequately prepared for the life in
To start with, McCandless was not someone who gave up. Despite others trying to scare him out of continuing with his journey into the Alaskan wilderness, nothing deterred McCandless. He anxiously awaited to experience life off the land. The people McCandless encountered on his way to Alaska often commented on his determination. Jim Gallien, a man who drove McCandless into the Alaska interior, described McCandless as “real gung-ho”. McCandless's attempt to undertake such a risky endeavour is something to admire in itself. To travel two years, mostly on foot, is certainly not an easy task. However, McCandless still persevered through the hardships he faced throughout his journey. McCandles...
Almost 24 years ago, Chris McCandless died in unfortunate circumstances. When the news was released that a young man in his early twenties was found dead in the wilderness, many people speculated that it was just another hopeless hitchhiker. However, this story took a three hundred sixty turn when author Jon Krakauer wrote a lengthy article on McCandless's death. When the book was later published, the public response was incredible. Even though this happened about 24 years ago, Chris McCandless's death is still argued and discussed today.
...s was at peace. Chris McCandless died happy and at peace with life because of the all the sights he had seen, all the people he had met, and ultimately the goal he had wanted to achieve was at his fingertips. He did not make it out of the “Great Alaska,” but he died trying. He had survived one hundred plus days. He had walked all over America. He had met some amazing tramps along the way. He had caused heartbreak, but he helped thousands. I believe, based on the fact that he stated he would write a book upon his return, all he wanted to be a legend and have a legacy. He did just that. Chris has died over ten years ago, and here I am in the tenth grade learning about his eventful life. Chris ‘Alexander Supertramp’ McCandless had lived an eventful life in his twenty-four years of living than most do in their one hundred years of life. His legacy will live on forever.
Life is a form of progress- from one stage to another, from one responsibility to another. Studying, getting good grades, and starting the family are common expectations of human life. In the novel Into the Wild, author Jon Krakauer introduced the tragic story of Christopher Johnson McCandless. After graduating from Emory University, McCandless sold of his possessions and ultimately became a wanderer. He hitchhiked to Alaska and walked into the wilderness for nearly 4 months. This journey to the 49th state proved fatal for him, and he lost his life while fulfilling his dream. After reading this novel, some readers admired the boy for his courage and noble ideas, while others fulminated that he was an idiot who perished out of arrogance and
Chris McCandless was a graduate from college whose dream was to go into the Alaskan wilderness and live there to get an overall experience of living off the land. McCandless wanted to experience how to hunt and gather everything that he needed to live in the Alaskan Wilderness. However was it a good idea when Mccandless went into the wild. Many people on his adventure tried to help him by giving him some equipment or buy him some because he wasn't prepared for his adventure. After McCandless’s death to this date people would say that McCandless is an idiot or stupid for not being prepared for the Alaskan wilderness.
Chris McCandless is regarded as being something as a spiritual figure almost as a cult hero, some call him a disillusioned fool, some call him a great adventurer, and the debate still continues. As Matthew Power calls in his article, an article where he tells the story of McCandless,“The debate falls into two camps: Krakauer's visionary seeker, the tragic hero who dared to live the unmediated life he had dreamed of and died trying; or, as many Alaskans see it, the unprepared fool, a greenhorn who had fundamentally misjudged the wilderness he'd wanted so desperately to commune with.” Like so many stories covering Christopher McCandless’ death, both ends of the argument are discussed in an unfavored manner in the hopes to help develop an opinion on the McCandless story. This open ended question can only be answered open-endedly based on what the readers base for themselves as covered stories intend. Like Power has done, ...
It was very strange to see another human/carriage on the ice. It was a shock to the crew to see a single man on a sled dragged by dogs through the Northern Sea. Comparing to a well equipped ship, the sled looked like a deadly ride. As mentioned earlier, you could only see the endless ice surrounding them and they couldn?t believe that a single man would travel far from the Big Land. However, the man on the sled was a gigantic stature and most likely he was a strong and brave man.
In 1914, a great leader began a great expedition, unbeknownst to him that instead of being known as great explorers, they would be known as some of the greatest survivors. This man was Sir Ernest Shackelton and he was determined to be the first to cross the Antarctic. Little did he know, his biggest challenge would end up being his ability to lead his team to survival. He also had no idea that their tale of strength, determination, and courage to survive would influence people well into the 21st century, and the book detailing their stories would be used as a model of leadership. As our group read this book, it was evident that Shackleton was a truly motivated and successful leader as we have come to understand one to be. His ability to successfully lead a team played a significant role in their survival.
Douglass’s narrative shines a glaring light on slavery through the eyes of slaves themselves. The story of Douglass’s life as a slave and his growth into the man that he ultimately became is nothing short of awe inspiring. The way Covey tried to break Douglass only strengthened him in the end. The abolitionist movement, no, the world would not be the same, had Frederick Douglass not been born.
McCandless is a very independent person, a person with high hopes, that has a lot of courage, and is a very brave man for going out by himself in the wild of Alaska of the Stampede Trail. Chris McCandless had a lot of courage on going to Alaska by himself at a young age. While Chris was at any city or anybody’s house, he was ready to go to Alaska. But while he was there, close to the end of his life, he left a note on the back of the bus saying, “S.O.S I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out of here i am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of god, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return by evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?” Chris McCandless was by himself at the time. He shows his courage because while by himself, he went back out even though he was near death. He went out for food. Food for his health. That shows how much courage he had for his trip. Chris McCandless encouraged many young men to ...