Into Thin Air - Literary Analysis Essay

Introduction

In his novel, Krakauer (2009) gives a narrative that provokes a myriad of questions regarding such sensitive themes as mortality, self-sacrifice, loyalty, trust and the determination to achieve. These questions are the inspiration behind his book, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster. Through an eye-witness approach, and a combination of other survivors' stories the author chronologically narrates the story, detailing the relationships among the teammates - both the amateur clients and the highly skilled guides. This paper is set to discuss the idea about an individual's capacity for self-sacrifice in the face of compelling circumstances, with particular attention to the most notable events in the novel.

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While trust is an essential aspect of teamwork, loyalty is a stronger dimension because it involves some degree of self-sacrifice. In his novel, Krakauer (2009) tells stories that are a portrayal of true self-sacrifice, where people put their lives on the line, an eventually die, trying to save their teammates. In the Everest ordeal, self-sacrifice is a theme that runs through the chapters as Krakauer (2009) narrates several incidences in which the guides portray selflessness by climbing up and down the mountain, sometimes several thousand feet and more, to rescue clients that run out of oxygen. In some cases, the guides go on such risky rescue missions without additional or reserve oxygen for themselves. They manoeuvre the hazardous weather, acquiring injuries but not giving up on their friends.

In the novel, Lopsang Sherpa portrays extreme willingness to sacrifice his life for his friend Fischer, who he is fiercely loyal to. Sherpa's loyalty to Fischer is rather apparent, almost to the exclusion of all other team members. When Fischer gets lost trying to maneuver the heights of the Everest, his loyal teammate Sherpa goes out to look for him oblivious to the rough and life-threatening weather. Similar loyalty is seen in the relationship between Hall and Hansen all through the novel, and particularly where Hansen is facing death and Hall seeks to help. At this point, it is obvious that Hansen is going to die, and that Hall is better off climbing down to save his life. On the contrary, Hall does not even consider it. He struggles to save Hansen, a fight that makes him lose his life instead. Arguably the most emotional story in the book, the tale of Hansen and Hall proofs the willingness and ability of human beings to sacrifice their own lives to save others in the face of adversity.

When Hansen and Harris are stuck at the summit, Andy Harris portrays strong willingness to help the two by bringing them extra oxygen. His attempts to save them cause him to die on his way. In my opinion, human judgment can be changed by circumstances. Krakauer's (2009) novel is clear that the climbers did not turn around despite seeing their teammates die along the way. The exposure of an ordinary human being can alter their willingness to sacrifice their lives for others. As the climbers went up the mountain, the reality of mortality kept becoming clearer. In my opinion, such realities would make a person feel compelled to sacrifice their safety for the sake of others. In conclusion, it is apparent that from the stories of the climbers, notably Hall, Hansen and Harris, human beings are capable of self-sacrifice to save others in the face of adversity.

Reference

Krakauer, J. (2009). Into thin air: A personal account of the Mount Everest disaster. Anchor.