The effects of frostbite and exhaustion really peak during chapters 4 and 5, yet the men also get extremely near to their destination of Elephant Island. Happiness is mixed in with feelings of intense despair. As they approached the island, Worsley, the captain of the Docker suggested to Shackleton that the boats be split up to find land independently. Shackleton agreed as long as Worsley stayed in sight, but as somewhat expected, the Docker later vanished into the darkness. After several useless attempts to signal the Docker, the other boats moved on and reached the island and eventually found a place to dock. AS luck would have it, Worsley and his men met up with the rest of the crew as they were landing onto the island. the end of part 4 is all around a victory.
The most moving quote in part 4 comes when they crew finally land the boats: "For the first time in 497 days they were on land. Solind, unsinkable, immovable, blessed land." This quote fits in with the lit term fantasy because the land was a fantasy world to the men. They hadn't experienced the feeling of earth in a year and a half. Even though the men weren't saved, they were still the happiest they had been since the sinking of thier beloved home away from home, the Endurance.
I liked how you made the connection that the land was a fantasy to the men. I had not thought of it that way at all.
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