INTRO: A human nature for success and recognition can take us through a life of fame and fortune, something most people do not have. However scaling mountains not yet conquered or going out into the wild with no source of contact comes at the furthest risk. Is Leaving everything you have for self achievements and goals worth a life? or more? The texts “Into Thin Air” written by Jon Krakauer, “Touching The Void” written by Joe Simpson, “127 Hours” Directed by Danny Boyle and “Into The Wild” Written by Jon Krakauer are all examples of how human nature pushes us to our limits no matter what the costs are. We as the viewers can understand throughout these texts and films on how these men push themselves to achieve great lengths, Ultimately leading themselves into there own death beds.
Throughout Jon Krakauer First person account “Into Thin Air” a simple question overhanded the storyline. Why would someone travel across the world into the slopes of Mt Everest and risk their own lives? In the compelling novel “Into Thin Air” Jon Krakauer a mountaineering enthusiast climbs into the summit of Mt Everest, there, limits are tested, an expedition to conquer the highest mountain on earth for a goal or achievement turns quickly around into an ultimate fight for survival. The reader learns within the beginning of the book that Jon has been passionate about mountaineering since childhood, his dreams of conquering such mountains had become a life planned out for him all at the early ages of 8 years old. With this in mind the reader could get an understanding of the goals and accomplishments Krakauer was setting for his personal self. Jon explained within the begging of the text “Nobody was admired more than the so called free soloists; visionaries who ascended alone, without rope or hardware” As well as Jon the mountaineering community knew that for fame and recognition a much larger risk was to be taken, one that could potentially put your own life in danger. This shows the reader through Jon’s Lens and is able to get an understanding of the reasons Jon would go on to risk himself and the others around him. This was later known as the “Everest Disaster”. “Previously, Everest had by and large been the province of elite Mountaineers”. Before Jon Krakauer was born Mt Everest was seen as the most challenging mountain to climb and never before had man reached the summit. In the three years Jon lived to climb, Mt Everest had been conquered over 100 times, now seen as an easier route of mountaineering Jon began to look down his nose on the worlds highest mountain. This is where the viewer can see a change in direction for Jon goals, he began climbing harder and more challenging routes that no human had done before, ultimately leading for his expedition on Mt Everest to take a turn for the worst.
Throughout Jon Krakauer Novel “Into Thin Air” the story of Jon expectations of himself and his own mental battle with his goals and achievements anticipate him to risking his life and others. This comes back to the question of why would Jon take such a risk for his recognition towards the mountaineering community. Throughout the text the reader could see the intensions of Jons life exceeding expectations of himself, the risks he would take for recognition could be seen by his past journeys. Which leads us to his account of the tragic incident on Mt Everest where eight people lost their lives on the journey back home from the summit of the worlds highest Mountain.
“Touching The Void” written by Joe Simpson is the recount of an event that would shake the mountaineering world forever. Joe Simpson and Simon Yates journey up to the mountain of Siula Grande there they would attempt to reach the summit where no man had gone before, It was the ultimate risk to take but both knew the consequences if things were not to go to plan. Joe Simpson within the beginning of the text quoted “We were in the middle of cordillera Hauyhuash, in the Peruvian Andes, separated from the nearest village by twenty eight miles of rough walking.” This shows that Joe and Simon both know the risk they are about take, the challenges they might endure. It tells the reader how vulnerable they really are 4,500 feet up the face. As the reader we are soon to question why take such a risk? Is their fame worth both lives? This is not only seen within Joe’s experience, in a real world context many expeditions take their teams into an apparent “death trap”, mountaineers risk their lives and the others around them to complete a goal where fame and recognition would come at a cost. Joe Simpson similar to Jon Krakauer had been dreaming of conquering such mountains since childhood, with a goal in plan the likely hood of completing this comes at the ultimate sacrifice, potentially leaving everything to reach the summit. Within the first chapters of “Touching The Void” the reader is able to understand Joe’s passion for climbing and the achievements he has succeeded in and those he has not yet finished. “If you succeed with one dream, you come back to square one and its not long before your conquering up another, slightly harder, more ambitious – a bit more dangerous.” Joe Simpson expressed within the text of his sense of an anti- climactic climb to the summit ultimately pushing himself and his partner Simon to endure in a much harder and difficult mountain from Siula Grande. He expresses seeking out something that will push him to his limits mentally and physically, a journey that could potentially put his whole life in danger. Joe is willing to place everything on the line while climbing, all for a sense of achievement he was searching for at the beginning of all his expeditions, when he was only at a young age.
Touching the Void is similar to Into thin Air as both men were seen chasing a dream or goal to conquer such a journey. The same questions can be seen by the reader from both texts, Why put your own life at risk to complete and achievement for recognition even fame? Joe Simpson and Jon Krakauer were both determined to reach the summit that they ultimately forgot about the risks, the risks of leaving everything you have behind and putting your life on the line. Both texts showed the reader how at such an early age both men were determined to reach great heights, The heights at which could potentially end your life and the others around you. Although similar the differences between Joe and Jon are seen throughout the text by the actions taken within their own settings. Joe being 25 years old when the event of Siula Grande took the world by storm was no more than an amateur climber, the decisions made by him can be seen through the actions he took while descending down the shafts. Joe Simpsons contrast between Jon Krakauer through age and experience can be understood throughout both texts as that would be the key for both mens survival. This showed that although there goals may of been similar, the survival of both men was seen through the quick rational decision both made and realising that overcoming your achievements may not be worth a life.
127 hours directed by Danny Boyle is the true story of one mans fight for survival within the depths of Blue John Canyon. Stuck in a crevice with a Boulder crushing his right arm, Aron Ralston fights for 5 and a half days living off barely no food and a near empty water source. Aron adventures out into the unknown with little preparation before hand, he was not prepared for the events that followed, causing him to take a risk of his lifetime. By the spring of 2003 Aron had set out a plan to conquer the canyon as it had been drenched with snow before hand, This was seen to the viewer as goal and intension of his and nothing was seemingly getting in the way of it. Throughout the first 10 minutes of the movie, the camera shots used almost exaggerate the use of water, as later within the film we were able to see how precious the water source is for Aron. The use of the director showing an overflowing tap Shows a contrast between his life and the source. By the director showing the viewer this we were able to get an understanding on how unprepared Aron was before adventuring out into the depths of the Blue John Canyon desert. Many other camera shots showed the risks Aron took before heading out of the sanctuary of his home, we were able to see Aron fiddling with a knife that he could not reach on the top shelf which ultimately lead to him grabbing not a suitable survival knife, As we later learn as the viewer that this was the most important aspect of his survival. Another scenario which showed the viewer how much of a risk Aron was taking was not telling anyone where he was going, The director showed this by showing Aron’s mother calling him through his cellphone which he ended. Without telling his mum where he was gong he was taking a potential risk of no one knowing the location of which he was missing. Aron’s selfishness of refusing to talk to his mum was the risk he took by stride. The viewer is left questioning the actions of Aron Ralston before journeying off into the canyons, Why take such a risk leaving everything you have if you know it could be worth your life? 15 minutes into act 1, Aron falls, smashing his hand against a boulder. He is alone, unable to project his voice, with a limited water source and equipment we as the viewer can see the importance of preparing for a journey like this is, and how taking such a risk could potentially lead you to your death bed. Aron has no cellphone coverage which the director emphasises when driving through into the canyon, a sign telling us how far away he Is from the nearest civilisation and ultimately rescue.
Aron Ralston’s “127 hours” film is different to the text “Touching the Void”. The contrast between Aron’s preparation and Joe Simpsons shows the viewer the maturity of both men. The risks both men made prior to their journeys may of got them out of the trouble they came across. The viewer was able to understand how Aron was unable to gather the correct equipment and go through the necessary procedures before biking into the canyon. On the other hand Joe Simpson before leaving his home of England was able to gather the correct equipment for climbing and a large source of water and food. Joe Simpson Before scaling Siula Grande did not take the risk of if something were to happen he wouldn’t be prepared. Aron on the other hand was not prepared for the events to come, risking his life for a simple mistake. This shows that to prepare for an event if its mental or physical it is as important than conquering the mountain we climb on. We as the viewer are able to see the much larger risk Aron took towards his journey than Joe, this highlights the importance of preparation and skill towards your specific hobby. Both men held a similar aspiration to life which leads us back to the question of why take such a risk if you now it could be worth a life? This question overhangs all the four texts which connects them into similarities, All four men took a chance which put them into serious danger, some lucky to survive, others not so.
Into The Wild, Written by Jon Krakauer is the story of Christopher Mcandlers journey into Stampede trail in Denali Nation Park, Alaska. Jon Krakaeurs book based on the true story of Chris’s journal shows us as the reader an understanding of how goals and life long achievements can push us to our breaking point, A life where Chris held different opinions/values towards his loved ones ultimately caused the death of this famous hitchhiker. Throughout the text which was written according to his journal writings, Chris had perceived his home life as materialistic towards a life of “success”, he became increasingly antagonistic towards the values his parents held, causing him to later on “escape” the life he had planned out ahead of him. Throughout the text we as the reader could understand how Chris was never really on the same page as his parents, his ongoing struggle he had to understand there values was a key attribute for him leaving them. Chris’s family had expressed that they had high hopes for him and his future, he was seen as a very successful student that would go far in life. So what ultimately lead Chris to leave all he had to hike out into the Alaskan wilderness? We as the reader may of felt that what Chris did by leaving his family behind was a selfish act, They expressed throughout the book that his parents loved him dearly and hired private investigators to find there beloved son. The consequences of Chris’s actions have not left the family name, forever causing grief and questions to this day. Within the first chapters of Jon Krakauer Into The Wild we as the reader could get an understanding of the goals he held for himself and the achievements to conquer that were much different to his family. The details beginning to unwind in chapter 4 see the action taken to achieve what Chris was hoping for at the very begging of his life. The reader sees Chris graduating then leaving his home and family without a trace, Mcandless proceeded to travel to Lake Mead in Nevada, there he burnt his earnings of $120 and then his backpack. Backpacking alone with no money came at the ultimate cost for Chris, he started to see the consequences of his actions but did not proceed to turn back. He carried on hiking further and further into the Denali National Park until he came across an old buss, there He took refuge, weeks passed but starvation was creeping up on him, with a limited source of food he decided to hike back along the trail. But no further than a few kilometres he realised that the river bed had overflown with rain, he was stuck between the buss and refuge. This is where the reader can see the risk Chris took on his own life to succeed in his own self worth and goals, the question of him risking his life for his own mental achievements came at a much greater cost. In 1992 aged 24 Chris died within his camp in the Alaskan wilderness, the cause of death was seen as malnaroushment a cause of starvation. His fight for recognition and understandment within his family chased him to defeat.
Into The Wild, Written by Jon Krakauer is similar to the film 127 hours directed by Danny Boyle as both men showed us an individual desire to complete a goal and achievement which the loved ones around them did not acknowledge. Chris Mcandless and Aron Ralston both journeyed away from their society without telling anyone where they were going, As they both held similar aspirations towards life, an objective of theirs were to travel alone, with no help or support. Was this to find who they are as individuals? or was it a so called suicide mission? Chris’s journey through the Alaskan wilderness showed a similarity between Aron’s event within the Canyon, Chris became attached to his objective of leaving the society in which he felt he did not fit in, while Aron may of also felt like he left his families values behind as we can see as the viewer within the beginning of the film a strain on his relationship towards his mother. The viewer/reader is able to get an understanding on how Chris and Aron’s values lead them into their events of survival. Both men had strains towards there families which was the strongest objective for there determination into the wild.
Success, fame, recognition can exceed expectations, a life of triumph within yourself and society is seen as a life long goal. An intension to summit the worlds highest mountain, journey through the Alaskan wilderness, or even scale a not yet conqured Glacier is near impossible to complete. But all this comes at the sacrifice of a lifetime, putting yourself and others in harms way to complete a goal or achievement. Risking everything you have to become recognised within your field of aspirations can lead us to leave everything behind, friends, family and ultimately our life. Throughout the texts “Into Thin Air”, Written by Jon Krakauer, “Touching The Void”, written by Joe Simpson, “127 Hours”, Director by Danny Boyle and “Into The Wild”,Written by Jon Krakeaur all showed us the similar aspirations these men held when journeying into their field, their field filled of graves. We take these risks for an objective within ourselves, where a purpose of living overshoots beyond the norm of society. Living comes at the ultimate cost.
Annabel, you have worked very hard on this assignment. I like how you have focused a good amount of your discussion on your “connections”, however I think that you need to give more specific evidence to validate these connections: quotations, events, decisions etc. Your analysis in these final summaries, needs more proof overall. Please let me know your thoughts.