Essay Questions

How does the novel explore the survivors fight against nature?

Throughout the book the group suffer as a result of nature. They are faced with the freezing temperatures of the Andes mountains and struggle to find water and food. They also suffer with natural disasters, such as avalanches and blizzards. Nature is presented as a force of danger, and something they must endure in order to survive. Ultimately some characters win the fight against nature, while others do not.

How is spirituality significant in this novel?

Spirituality and religion is a key aspect of the text. The characters struggle to keep faith and sometimes question why God might have let some survive and others not, however they manage to keep believing in the face of adversity. Faith helps them to overcome difficulties, and many characters pray which offers them some consolation.

In a text that is about endurance, and the need to keep on going, religious faith plays a key part in their motivation to keep going. Religious faith is also important to the families of the survivors, who pray that their loved ones will return home safe.