The final choice – Chapter 6

Both Joe and Simon are facing a potentially deadly execution off this mountain, as they are descending down they face many problems that threaten both the men’s lives. As Simon is lowering Joe through the snow screams of agony is coming from Joe in dispare. His shattered knee joint causes a rough trip down for both the men. Simon’s only perspective and focus is to get Joe down as quickly as possible before dark this induces a painful descend for Joe. When Joe quotes “I sobbed and gasped, swore at the snow and cold, and most of all at Simon.” This shows how the relationship between them both is on a verge and frustration is kicking in. Another problem that was occurring for both of the men was the first signs of frost bite on their fingers particular. Joe quotes the text “I could adjust to the steady pain. My hands, however, were much worse” Even tho this is a very subtle thing at the start it potentially leads to a dangerous problem if there not down the mountain fast. This comes into play when Joe struggles to move his fingers while dangling off the cliff this ultimately leads to Simon cutting the rope as Joe could not manage to climb up the edge.

Joe recreated the tension felt when being lowered by Simon off the cliff with many examples of syntax sentences, this creates an intensity throughout the text.  The short sharp sentences consisting of simple and minor sentencing, for example when Joe had his accident he quotes his feelings towards his leg “I’m Hurt.  I’m damaged.  Rest me, leave me be!” Joe uses this as its very important for the situation he is in, the problems both the men face descending down this mountain show in there language features and sentence structure. Another example for structures Joe uses many short sharp curse words when dangling on for his life “YOU S*** YOU F****** BASTARD” This connects the reader into their experiences with a feeling of a power of extremity causing a  hook by end of the text. Another language feature Joe recreates is the use of emotive language, this is a very powerful technique to use when dealing with tough situations, in this case the language has been modified into a negative state of tension. Examples of the language used in the text consist of: Bitterly, Weak, Limbless, Disembodied, Jesus, Vainly, and many more.

Simon’s narration throughout this event is very important for detailing the feelings and account of which both the men were struggling through. A significant detail in Simon’s narration that leads to him cutting the rope came from many thoughts and feeling right at the start of Joe’s fall. Simon recounted that “He wouldn’t mind if Joe fell off the mountain” This continues to foreshadow Simon throughout there whole experience. This was a very important thing to include in the text because this explains small but significant details that then lead him to cutting Joe’s rope which was thought of to kill him. Another detail from his account was when Joe had fallen off the cliff which left him dangling for around about an hour. All the weight was on Simon in this scene, this became a very dangerous and important decision he makes. After time of thinking Simon was gradually getting pulled to the edge of the mountain, in a quick 5 minutes Simon had cut the rope that was being kept connected by both the men. Simon says in this narration ” I was still alive because I had held everything together right up to the last moment” This is just one of the leading thoughts going through his head at the time.  Simon’s perspective was very important to include in this section as he unwillingly makes the biggest decision of his life and Joes.