This chapter in Touching the Void has Simon facing a very difficult choice. Should he sever Joe’s rope and risk killing him? Or, should he hold on to the rope, despite the fact that his stability is decreasing by the minute as the mountain collapses below him, hoping Joe will somehow find a way of lifting him up. Simon’s decision is difficult, especially when he considers his ignorance of Joes situation. Ordinary people could not imagine the difficulty of this decision.

As Simon is alone on the frozen mountain for the very first time, and has just made an important decision, it would seem impossible to get a restful night’s sleep. Simon flits between consciousness and a coma. Simon does not seem to be upset about the fact that he could have killed Joe. Instead, he says that Joe is just a weight that was suddenly removed from his waist. Simon may be trying to avoid thinking of Joe as an actual human being that he could have killed. The adjective violently can be used to suggest murder and pain, which may indicate that Simon subconsciously makes himself the bad person.

Simon has spent the night tossing around and feeling exhausted. However, his dehydration coupled with his desire to get down the mountain quickly makes him feel like his adventure is coming to an end. The reader is left to believe that Simon will die soon from dehydration. Or, he may climb to the bottom before the night is over. Simon’s statement that he felt watched is likely because he has convinced himself that if he cuts the rope, a criminal is committing a crime that is yet to be discovered. He is therefore feeling paranoid. Simon imagines beings to break up the solitude of his descent down the mountain when he is alone. It’s evident in his words I knew it and they also knew it. Although the verb knew is common, it still has the connotation that it was certain.

Simon remembers how he dressed in a formal way, like a clergyman before the mass. It brings out the extremes of the situation, and gives it a whole new perspective. It is a good simile, since priests are considered to be God’s messengers and behave in a perfect manner. At that time the creator was not good because he thought he had murdered an innocent man. The simile’s design is to portray Simon in a negative light. It has been strategically placed.

Simon woke up the next morning to discover that his nightmare of the previous night is no more. The dread he felt in the dark hours has vanished with the dawn. It suggests he’s putting it behind him so he can move on with the task he needs to complete. He states that the dark hours filled with thought are now behind me. The combination of dark combined the fact it’s behind him suggest he is ready to finish his work and Joe’s, which seems like years back.

michaellang

Michael Lang is a 33-year-old professor and blogger who is passionate about writing. He has been blogging for over 7 years and has written for various online publications. Michael is also a seasoned professor who has taught at the college level for over a decade. He is currently a professor of English at a community college in the Midwest.