chapter 2: sir ernest shackleton: the man, the myth, the explorer

"I fee that another expedition unless it crosses the continent is not much"- Sir Ernest Shackleton

     As i previously stated (in my first blog), the purpose of Endurance as i perceive it is to enlighten the reader as to the hardships of the journey.  It also displays a character account of the crew.  In this series of posts (my blog), i will try to characterize the crew and describe the hardships as best i can.

     Ernest Shackleton may have been one of the most determined and loyal leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries (the late 1800's and early 1900's to eliminate any confusion).  Shackleton wasn't inexperienced in seafaring journeys to Antarctica.  This was his 3rd voyage and his second as captain.  Shackleton felt that he owed it to his country to lead an expedition across the continent.  This same loyalty almost stopped the journey from happening.  World War II was just starting and Shackleton almost called the voyage off but, Winston Churchill told him to continue.

     The only other explorer whose idea was as crazy as Shackleton's was Christopher Columbus (we all know how "crazy" that idea was).  His idea that the world was round and that he could travel West to get to the Indies (east of Europe) was just as ridiculous as Shackleton's idea to cross a continent when people tried to go halfway.