127 Hours

     By now most have heard the story of Aron Ralston, or even seen it in the famous movie “127 Hours”. This film, based on a true story, follows Ralston through the desolate Blue John Canyon as he sets out for a day of hiking alone. Things take a turn for the worst as he falls into a crevice between rocks and his arm becomes trapped by a 1,000 pound boulder. He then must wait it out hoping for someone to find him. For days he waits until he comes to the realization that no one will ever come to his rescue and if he doesn’t take action now, he will surely die. “Tying a tourniquet above his elbow, Ralston took out a pocketknife, plunged it into his arm and began to cut. Slicing the tendons and ligaments at the elbow, Ralston pulled himself free, leaving half his arm behind the boulder.”(Tolme)

     This true and current event can be compared to Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” where we find a man fighting for survival in the worst of conditions. Both of the characters don’t fully realize the fact that they could die and most likely will until they are on the brink of death. The man in London’s story however, is not quite so efficient in using what he has available to make a plan for survival and the ending of the story reflects this as he dies. Ralston on the other hand, takes matters into his own hands and fights hard for his survival and it pays off in the end.

     If Jack London had been around to hear the story of Aron Ralston I believe it would kept his view on naturalism the same. He would have seen a man, in a very similar situation to his own writing that, as it seems, is living in a very indifferent universe. They both are in unfortunate circumstances in the wild with no help coming from nature or the world around them. The only difference between the survival of Ralston and the death of the man in “To Build a Fire” is their own personal fight for survival and their willingness to do whatever it takes to come out alive.

Tolme, Paul. “Arms and the man: A hiker's story.” News Week. 141. 19 (2003): 39. Web. 27 Apr. 2012.