Theme
After discussing theme in class, provide the theme that your group developed through close analysis of the text and your plot map. Then, defend your theme. Why does this theme make sense for the novel? How does this theme relate to the contemporary American lifestyle?
I think that the one recurring theme in this book is determination. Throughout the book we see many harsh conditions and challenges that Jon overcomes, on page 128 Krakauer says: “Yanking the laces tight made me wince in pain: for the past two weeks the condition of my cracked, bleeding fingertips had been steadily deteriorating in the cold air.”. This shows the amount of pain Jon has to go through to reach the top. This theme relates to American lifestyle because in America we believe that everyone should get a shot to achieve their dreams. Accomplishing those dreams are not easy, so often times only those with the most determination achieve those dreams. Those that are determined to succeed in american culture know it is a rough road and are ready to take on the challenges. As Jon's team climbs higher we see that those that are determined climb on through injury or pain, while those that are not ready drop out.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you on the fact that determination is a good theme. Don't you think that suffering would be the overall theme though as you stated that determination is the theme due to all of the conditions and challenges. Yes determination is key in this book but no matter how determined you are it doesn't mean that you will make it out alive and as we see in the book many determined experienced climbers suffer and fail.
DeleteThat is a good point, suffering could also be a theme in this book because of all the climbers that have suffered and failed. I also think it strengthens the theme of determination because through all the pain and suffering climbers are still determined to keep going.
DeleteI agree that determination is a good theme that covers this because all the climbers as we know are climbing Everest so that most of them can fulfill there dreams and that they conquered the biggest mountain on Earth. They will even as we know risk there lives doing that which can lead to a different topic.
DeleteI agree with you Eric that determination is a theme that can be found all throughout the book. It is especially apparent the higher on the mountain the climbers go with the increased injury and altitude sickness combo-ed with the decreased morale. Determination is the one factor that gets the climber to the top, and those who are not determined drop out like you said.
DeleteI agree determination is key in the book and is shown through multiple characters and lenses throughout the story. And yes I believe sometimes the determination is to much for one man to handle due to how many deaths have occurred on Everest from determined mountaineers. But does this determination effect the point Krakauer is trying to get across. Is he trying to show us determination or show us a deeper meaning of how dangerous Everest truly is.
DeleteFrom Into Thin Air, there can be several theme statements made about universal ideas. Modernizing third world cultures and countries is great for the economy, but preserving tradition and authenticity is more important, because it adds greater value to the diversity of society. In the book there are several areas where this theme statement can be supported. The Sherpas are in a situation where they are beginning to be modernized. While they make more profit due to tourist attraction, some of their identity is lost in the focus of the climbers of Everest. Earlier in the story the author states how Nepal has lost its natural value, “It was magnificent country, as topographically imposing as any landscape on earth, but it wasn’t wilderness, and it hadn’t been for over a hundred years” (44.) In the interest of money Nepal has been modernized from the addition of first world climbers. It has increased it’s value for tourist attraction, but the roots and ethnic originality has been lost. Although the Sherpas make better profit off of modernization they aren’t as satisfied, because it’s not the natural wilderness they once knew. This relates to American lifestyle today, because modernization is constantly in effect. Native American culture continues to be sidelined by big corporations, and greedy hierarchy that don’t have any interest in ethnic history. It’s important to preserve the history and background that drives society, so that people don’t forget what got them to today.
ReplyDeletei would agree with you in the fact that there are many themes that make up this book because so many different things are occurring in the book. I don't agree fully on the main theme being modernizing third world cultures because of the fact that it hasn't been talked about repeatedly in the book it sort of comes and goes in the book unlike suffering that is constantly present
DeleteI think that this theme is one of the best ones that relates to america. Today the one thing that drives our society is money, and at what point does money outweigh things like traditional beliefs and values. I think this books does a good job of showing what western society looks like today.
DeleteI agree that there are man themes that can be brought up Into Thin Air because there are multiple things happening at once in this book. I see what you are kind of getting at with the Sherpas of how different they are compared to the others. How they are see things also differently too.
DeleteI disagree with you. I think the modernization of the Sherpas is doing more good than harm. Yes modernization is contributing to the loss of cultural values, but it is also creating a better standard of living and financial stability within the country. The halting of this modernization just so that we can preserve a culture is unfair to the Sherpas. The Sherpas will not get to experience the first world pleasures we get to just because we want to study an learn from their culture.
Delete
ReplyDeleteThroughout my analysis of the text I have come up with the theme of suffering/death that is shown numerous times throughout the book. As shown early on in the book on p(100 the author says “My vision dimmed and my head began to spin. I was on the brink of losing consciousness. Instead of turning my oxygen off, Harris, in his hypoxically impaired state, had mistakenly cranked the valve open to full flow, draining the tank.” This is showing that there is suffering shown early on in the book and it is constantly being shown throughout the book. As we see later on in the book the author explains how many people have died while attempting to climb Mt. Everest showing the great struggle and suffering that goes on while climbing. On p(145) the author says “ The coughing had continued unabated, and each hack felt like a stiff kick between the ribs. Most of the other climbers in Base Camp were in similarly battered shape- it was simply a fact of life on Everest.” This quote is stating that it's simply a fact of life when climbing Everest to deal with pain and suffering. This theme seems fitting to the book because to me that seems like the main focus of the book currently to explain the suffering that the climbers go through in order to reach the top of the Mtn.
I agree and disagree. There are multiple themes that could fit the plot of Everest. But I feel like Jon isn't trying to get across death and suffering. He gives many examples and events that end in death, but those show the struggle and determination like Eric said that the climbers are going through. The focus isn't on death, but it is on the how the characters are going to get to the top and what kind of conflict comes along the way.
DeleteIn the book Into Thin Air there are a lot of climbers climbing up Mount Everest including the author in this book, Jon Krakauer. In this book there is determination in the characters to get to the top of Everest and will do anything to get up there even if they get injured. In the book a lot of characters in the book are getting frostbite and are bleeding in different parts of there bodies like the main character’s fingers were bleeding in the book also. In American lifestyle there are a lot of people that still have determination to do those kind of things today. People that just wanting to keep pushing through their limits and doing what they ever dreamed of doing and are giving there all to get bw whom they want to be like for the rest of there lives. Although in American society it isn’t always easy. Just like Into Thin Air they are risking there lives to get to the top of Everest while getting injured while climbing up it, but they will do anything to keep pushing on up to get to the top.
ReplyDeletei agree with your statement, you could almost say that we are greedy and dont want to wait for things and we want it now. but is your theme perseverance or determination?
DeleteI agree that we see determination in an extensive time period throughout this book. Determination can be found by just looking at the widest frame of the story, climbing a mountain. If you are not determined to do something, there's not a chance you would be willing to put your life in danger, and your body through the harsh effects.
DeleteIn my opinion, the most important theme throughout the whole novel is that: when under pressure decision making is imperative, wisdom is knowing which decision is the best. This is shown in our novel throughout the need for Jon and his teammates to decide whether or not to trust each other and Rob. It is also shown on summit day when the expedition had to decide between climbing after the set time or going back at the set time. The decision of climbing after the set time actually cost lives of members on Jon’s expedition. This is seen when a group from the expedition is late on the deadline and can’t find their way back to camp, Jon writes “At times you couldn’t even see your own feet, it was blowing so hard.” (Krakauer 215). This can relate to the contemporary american lifestyle in multiple ways, as great as life or death, or simpler. Such as deciding whether or not to do homework, deciding whether or not to show up to school or work on time. These decisions can be fed by multiple ideas such as, “If I don’t do my homework tonight I can just do it tomorrow before class.” but doing your homework the night before is obviously wiser, and will overall be the right decision.
ReplyDeletei agree with this theme, we see it multiple times with multiple different people and its not just one person, it is really almost everyone in this story.
DeleteYou list multiple and great examples of where this theme can be seen not only in the book, but in life itself. Very good analogy with the homework example and would make it more understandable to anyone who was reading.
DeleteWhen under pressure decision making is imperative, Wisdom is knowing which decision is the best. This theme is supported throughout the story with the multiple times in the story at which people made decisions that cost them. “It would be many hours before I learned that everything had not in fact turned out great.. That nineteen men and woman were stranded up on the mountain”(Krakauer 203). Jon listened to instructions and turned around at the right time because he got to the summit early, so he was already heading back by the designated time to turn around but no one else turned around at the appropriate so there for many people got stuck up on the mountain due to the big storm. In times like this being wise and patient about these decision will save you in the long run. Many people didn't make it out of the storm and many people were injured. We as americans like to achieve big goals and be daring but in times it may not be the best idea, it may be better to take it slower and be smarter about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree. In a life threatening situation when you can't think straight. It is incredibly important to stick to the plan established beforehand.
DeleteI also agree, we can see how this has effected Jon and other climbers and with seeing this may cause us to realize even more how this occurs to us.
Delete
ReplyDeleteWhen examining the story as a whole, the theme our group created is as follows: When under pressure decision making is imperative, Wisdom is knowing which decision is the best. Jon writes “We were too tired to help. Above 8,000 meters is not a place where people can afford morality” (Krakauer 253). This argues our theme by showing that the decision to help someone in a dangerous situation when you understand you are not physically or mentally stable to, is not the best thing to do. Understanding your own limits and making decisions that are best for you is crucial. Why would you want to lose two lives, when you could only lose one? I feel this is true for all things in life, doing more of something that’s already bad, is a poor decision and its results could be fatal. In my own life, cheating is a common topic that is addressed within the school walls. If someone cheats off an outside source, it will only affect them. However, if you help someone cheat, it will affect both of you. I predict that Jon will regret his decisions but also know that if he didn’t make them when he did, he may not have been able to accomplish what he has.
Although all of the people want to save the other's lives when they are in trouble, very often it will do more hurt than good. This is shown after summit day when they leave Namba and Beck to die. They leave them because they don't think they would survive the trip down anyways, and because very likely more lives would be lost in the rescue than saved. I agree.
DeleteThroughout the book “Into Thin Air”, the emerging theme is based on the importance of wisdom. When under pressure decision making is imperative, Wisdom is knowing which decision is the best. Krakauer writes, “At Base Camp before our summit bid, Hall had contemplated two possible turnaround times-- either 1:00 PM or 2:00PM”(Krakauer, 185). However, they did not turnaround at either of these times, and many of them were still arriving on the summit past 4:00 PM. This shows the lack of wisdom among the climbers. If they had thought soundly, they would’ve followed the original plan and turned around at 2:00 PM, then likely none of them would’ve been caught in the storm. I personally know that when you have a plan, you should stick to it 100%, because once you allow yourself to make concessions, your plan goes out the window. Especially in a situation where none of them are thinking clearly because they are oxygen deprived, you should stick to the exact plan because you won’t be able to effectively make adjustments. Why do you all think Hall didn’t set a cement turnaround time? I personally believe that the competition between Fischer and Hall was extreme and they both wanted to get as many people to the summit as possible, which is what led them to make misguided decisions. I think that Krakauer included this part about the lack of a cement turnaround time because he thinks they could’ve avoided a lot of trouble and misery if they had had one, even if it meant clients not making it to the summit.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts about sticking to a plan and think the reason why hall didint set a turn around time was because he wanted people to reach the summit quicker and with this decision risked the lives of many climbers that might not see the possibility of not being able to make it back down.
DeleteIn the novel Into Thin Air the underlying topic throughout is the modernization of a foreign culture. Many themes can be portrayed by this topic. I interpreted it as, modernization of a culture brings both positives and negatives, but the halting of modernization to preserve a culture at the cost of stopping development and economic prosperity is wrong. In the book the foreign culture is that of the Sherpa and the modernization force is western tourism focused around climbing. In this case the modernization force is doing more good than harm. Without the climbing industry many Nepalese would have been “carrying freshly cut wood beams that weighed in excess of one hundred pounds, for which they were paid about three dollars a day.”(Krauker 47) With the climbing industry though “climbing Sherpas can expect to earn $1,400 to $2,500 for two months of hazardous work attractive pay in a nation with an annual per capita income of around $160.”(Krauker 47) The modernization also creates jobs for non climbing sherpas, because the influx of tourist brings a need for hotels and restaurants and in turn staff to run them. Also “hard currency from trekkers and climbers, as well as grants from international relief organizations supported by trekkers and climbers, have funded schools and medical clinics, reduced infant mortality, built footbridges and brought hydro-electric power to Namche and other villages.”(Krauker 48) Modernization does have it's negative sides like “teens hanging out in Namche carrom parlors are more likely to be wearing jeans and Chicago Bulls T-shirts than quaint traditional robes”, and “families are apt to spend their evenings huddled around video players viewing the latest Schwarzenegger opus.”(Krauker 48) The halting of modernization to preserve a culture is wrong, because it stops that culture from enjoying the first world benefits many of us love. Like Krauker says on page 48 “the last thing Sherpas want is to be preserved as specimens in an anthropological museum.”
ReplyDeleteIn the book there is multiple themes and the one that best fit was the overarching topic of wisdom, when under pressure decision making is imperative wisdom is knowing which decision to make. With this being said Jon provides multiple scenarios where wisdom occurs, one of them is when he decides to take a half tank instead of a full tank of oxygen. His decision could have been contradicted by his quick thinking and lack of wisdom. This theme is the best fit for the book because it is an overarching topic that occurred not only with Jon but with Rob Hall and others as well. Showing how often wisdom occurs. This theme connects to a contemporary american lifestyle because sometimes if one is under pressure wisdom can concur thoughts and put you in a worse or best direction.
ReplyDeleteIn the book there is multiple themes, but the biggest requiring theme would be trust. Many charaters struggle with trust and many people in their daily lives struggle with trust. Trust was heavily shown through the eyes of Beck Weathers. His actions that he prevailed showed how important trust is. Beck Weathers prior to climbing Everest had a eye surgery done thinking it would be better for him when climbing Everest. Little did he know this effected his climb tremendously. "My vision had gotten so bad that I couldn't see more than a few feet" (197). Beck lost all vision almost and didn't seem to tell anyone until it was almost to late. This shows how much trust you need to have in another person on Everest. No matter how motivated you are to climb you need to trust that telling someone there is something wrong is the right thing to do. The theme of trust plays a role throughout the book. We will learn more on how each character is going to need to learn to trust one another to complete Everest. Do you think Jon is trying to have trust be the main theme or do you think there is a more deeper meaning to the story?
ReplyDelete