To begin with, the adventure novel, Into Thin Air, illustrates the many cases where lives are put at risk and much vulnerability to death takes place. Some characters in the story were tough, driven people and come to assist anyone. Rob Hall for example, is truly exceptional. When Doug Hansen runs out of oxygen at the top, Rob doesn’t leave his side. His loyalty and devotion to his clients is astonishing. Eventually, he dies but the courage he had will always be remembered.
Likewise, there are numerous illnesses one can develop up on Mount Everest. There is a great shortage of oxygen and the body has an extremely hard time adjusting to it. As a result, that issue can lead to pulmonary illnesses, brain damage, breathing problems, vision loss and countless other disorders. For instance, one of the characters in the book, Beck Weathers, has had eye surgery before he went up on Mount Everest. Because they are in such high altitude; oxygen is very thin. This damaged his eyesight a lot and he even lost his eyesight. When he was left for dead, Mike Groom, an Australian guide, helped Weathers down the mountain. This shows true integrity and nobility. He did not let this man die and risked his own life for him. Despite the weather’s atrocity, he rescued Beck Weathers. Such character is very admirable. It is a person’s duty to assist and save someone when his or her life is put at great risk which, in my opinion, the climbers understood quite well. Personally, I believe it is important to go out of one’s way to aid others and contribute to their well-being. You must do as you wish others would do for you.
As a final point, climbing Everest is a very perilous expedition. There are many risks involved with ascending this hill and one must be prepared for its menaces. Then again, putting someone’s life at risk for your own safety is completely wrong. For example, Sandy Pittman in the story puts Lopsang’s life in grave danger. She brought up 80 pounds of technological instruments and made him carry the whole thing up on Everest. In addition, as she starts to get exhausted, he takes her up the mountain by short-roping her. This is extremely hazardous and inconsiderate of her. It is even immoral to do this to someone. If she was not ready for the expedition and couldn’t go up without needing to be short-roped or assisted in such a way that puts another person’s life in danger; she should not have come.
In conclusion, Jon Krakauer’s harrowing novel of high-altitude climbing exposes a story of bad luck, horrible judgment and much heroism. Human lives were put at risk of death. Human responsibility during crisis situations is a debated topic. One has the choice to put his own life at risk to save someone else. On the other hand, things can get very dangerous and the only solution could be saving your own life instead. Despite the circumstances, it is important that one should not be judged for what they choose to do up on Mount Everest. I've often wondered why people risk their lives to find a new horizon, but I guess it’s our nature to explore and discover!
B) Essay 2
It is only natural to be faced with diverse issues in life. Every day, people are faced with different challenges but also have different ways of approaching those issues and solving them. It’s hard for someone to be constrained and forced to do things they do not want to do; most will not accept it. As human beings, we live by our emotions and feelings.
In Frank McCourt’s memoir Angela’s Ashes, we are encountered with a story of young boy who wants to leave behind his past and present to finally become a man. His life is a harsh one and we see that he does not want to live this way anymore.
I believe that a person does not interpret his circumstance as a constraint but comes to grasp it with experience. For example, Mr. Hannon’s legs, in this memoir, are destroyed and extremely weak due to his harsh job as a coal deliverer; he explains this to Frank and encourages him to pursue his education to make something out of himself. It is proved to us through the end of the short story, that he does not take this advice. Frank wanted to break free of his monotonous, dull and sad life. In a sense, he deserved a change and a happy life but in the long run, it would be painfully hard. This was something he could not understand at such a young age.
In Wilmer Mills’ poem “Diary of a Piano-Tuner’s Wife”, the author describes her feelings towards her husband. She feels like she lives under the shadow of his past and is very misunderstood by him. The issue at hand in this poem is freedom. She refuses to be constrained by him and doesn’t want to be hurt by him anymore. When reading this poem, one gets feelings of empathy towards this woman. Many people go through these sorts of things. In a sense, nobody wants to live in a box or under someone’s shadow. Her liberation and freedom is best seen in the verses where she compares herself to the strings of the piano. She finally breaks free from the restraining acts and insensitive manners towards her.
