Grit In Daniel James Brown's Boys In The Boat

Grit can be defined as the firmness of mind and spirit, a mental toughness where people have unyielding courage that helps them persevere through hard times. In the non-fiction novel Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, Joe Rantz lives through many hardships, from the death of his mother to the abandonment by his family. Joe is able to find his place in the world through rowing at the University of Washington, where he is able to regain the trust of others on his path to the Olympics. Joe Rantz is able to build grit throughout his life experiences, from his abandonment to his extreme desire to be independent. Ultimately, these experiences transform him into a stronger individual. Joe Rantz builds mental toughness throughout his rough

As a result, Harry and Thula decide to move to Seattle without Joe, and leave him to survive on his own. After Harry tells Joe that he is unable to go with them to Seattle, Joe decides that “he will never again let himself depend on them, though, nor on his family, nor on anyone else, for his sense of who he [is]. He [is] gonna survive, and he [will] do it on his own” (Brown 59). A turning point in Joe’s life, Joe showcases a newfound self-determination to survive. Joe will “never let himself depend on his family or anyone else” and will “survive, and do it on his own”. For these reasons, Joe’s perseverance show he is a gritty, mentally strong, and independent person. Joe’s abandonment and his ability to fight through it convey the idea that his life experiences have helped create grit. Furthermore, Joe’s actions prove that he has become a mentally tougher person. He uses his abandonment as motivation to become independent and to prove to Harry that he can survive and succeed. Later on in the book, Joe develops a good relationship with Washington’s boatbuilder, George Pocock, who gives him advice on rowing. When finally