You thought the Titanic was a catastrophic tragedy? Just wait until you hear the story of the whaleship Essex. After the ship is attacked—and sunk—by a rogue whale, the surviving crew is forced to make a desperate trek across thousands of miles of open sea. That's no easy task. They face starvation. They face madness. Heck, things get so freaky out there that a few guys even end up eaten. For real. More tension-filled than an episode of Breaking Bad, In the Heart of the Sea teaches us a lot about the triumphs—and limits—of the human spirit.
Questions About Suffering
- Was it wrong of the sailors to eat their dead companions? Why or why not?
- What are some instances of mental and emotional suffering in the book?
- Why does Pollard fast on the anniversary of the Essex disaster?
- Do the surviving crewmembers still suffer after they return home? Explain.