Suffering Quotes in In the Heart of the Sea

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

Captain William Crozier was moved to tears at what Chase called "the most deplorable and affecting picture of suffering and misery." (12.39)

Even Crozier, who has surely witnessed some messed-up stuff during his time at sea, is horrified by the suffering that the Essex's crew has endured. These are changed men. No matter what happens to them in the future, they'll always bear the scars (both literal and figurative) of this awful ordeal.

Quote #8

It is not uncommon for castaways who have been many days at sea and suffered both physically and emotionally to [...] exist in a shared fantasy world. (12.45)

Eventually, the only way for Pollard and Ramsdell to escape from their physical suffering is to transport themselves to an imaginary world. Of course, their imaginary world happens to center on the bones of their former shipmates, but hey—when life gives you lemons, you make lemon skeletons.

Quote #9

It was Pollard and Ramsdell—found clutching the bones of their dead companions—who had come the closest to complete psychic disintegration. (13.11)

While Chase's crew certainly had a rough time, their trip was a cakewalk compared to Pollard and Ramsdell's. These two men were force to kill and murder their nephew and best friend, respectively, which is something you can never come back from. There's just one thing we know for sure—the next Pollard family reunion sure is going to be awkward.