Disaster has a tendency to bring out the best and the worst in people. In the narrative, In the Heart of the Sea, Nathaniel Philbrick tells the true story of the horrible tragedy that occurred to the crew of the Essex. The Essex was a whaling ship native to Nantucket that was attacked by a whale in 1821. The 21 crew members were essentially obligated to leave the Essex and transfer into three smaller whaleboats. Owen Chase, originally a mate on the Essex, took over Captain Pollards authority role as soon as the disaster occurred. A hero is a person or main character of a literary work who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity and strength, often sacrificing their own personal concerns for a greater good. Arguments
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Chase’s tenacity was not a trait possessed by all of the men on the whaleboats. For example, two months after the sinking of the Essex, Richard Peterson decided it was his time to die. He refused his daily ration of bread by saying, “it may be of service to someone but can be none to me” (163). The incident with Peterson demonstrates that hope and perseverance were all that stood between these men and death.Chase’s perseverance was shown in the way he tried to move past his shipmate’s death by uplifting the morale of his crew. Arguments have arisen that although his perseverance and willpower embody that of a hero, his lack of courage simply does not. In Chapter 5, Chase had the opportunity to lance the whale that attacked the ship and therefore could have prevented the tragedy. Yet he hesitated because “if provoked, the whale might smash the delicate steering device with its tail” (82). This hesitation is seen as a sign of cowardice. However, Chase did not fear this animal, he was afraid of the damage it could do to the Essex. He thought that if he attacked the whale, and did not kill it at once, the animal would be angered and damage the boat. The crew's predicament does not only require split-second decision-making but also perseverance to follow
Chase’s tenacity was not a trait possessed by all of the men on the whaleboats. For example, two months after the sinking of the Essex, Richard Peterson decided it was his time to die. He refused his daily ration of bread by saying, “it may be of service to someone but can be none to me” (163). The incident with Peterson demonstrates that hope and perseverance were all that stood between these men and death.Chase’s perseverance was shown in the way he tried to move past his shipmate’s death by uplifting the morale of his crew. Arguments have arisen that although his perseverance and willpower embody that of a hero, his lack of courage simply does not. In Chapter 5, Chase had the opportunity to lance the whale that attacked the ship and therefore could have prevented the tragedy. Yet he hesitated because “if provoked, the whale might smash the delicate steering device with its tail” (82). This hesitation is seen as a sign of cowardice. However, Chase did not fear this animal, he was afraid of the damage it could do to the Essex. He thought that if he attacked the whale, and did not kill it at once, the animal would be angered and damage the boat. The crew's predicament does not only require split-second decision-making but also perseverance to follow