Jesse Martin’s journey was a selfish act to begin with but turned into something
heroic and brave. He left without having much training and time in preparation,
sailed through dangerous waters putting strain on his family and the people helping
him and finally he ended successfully and happy and became a brave hero.
Jesse’s selfish attitude towards the journey is shown by how quickly he left before
raising more of the money himself and the small amount of training he had. His
mother had to mortgage the house to pay for a boat that he had only been taught to
sail a minimal amount. This showed that Jesse was willing to risk his family’s
happiness and home for a trip that would only benefit him. His small amount of
experience was no worry to him, “I didn’t have the experience, but I made the
decision because I was confident I had the ability” (pg.60). Jesse had hardly more
then just his confidence to help him and that was a selfish thing to depend on for a
trip so big.
While Jesse sailed around the world his friends and family waited for his return,
although supporting him also having to wait in fear he would not make it. When
Jesse came to that dangerous night of continues knock downs his family had to wait
for news, not knowing what had happened. Jesse’s trip stressed everyone but
himself, he expected them to be happy for him to go on this risky trip with a small
amount of experience, he didn’t care how that worried them, and it was all about
him. “My decisions could affect my survival. I’d never carried such heavy
responsibility before. It made me feel alive.” (p. 160), the risk did not concern him,
just the rush he got from it. The journey was still something selfish for Jesse but at
the same time he had showed bravery by his actions in the knockdowns.
Ending the trip, Jesse shows he is brave and could be called a hero. Instead of
quitting when it got...