Miracle In The Andes Character Analysis

When people think of a hero, they think of Superman, Batman, or some cliche along those lines. Heroes that save lives, stop an evil villain, or rescue their loved ones. However, the average, everyday person who defies the odds when placed in an extraordinary situation is a hero as well. The Princess Bride is a classic Hollywood film of a man returning after many years to rescue his true love with the help of some friends met along the way. The novel Miracle in the Andes similarly depicts a tale of love and friendship, however, in a more meaningful way. Both of the main characters, Westley and Nando respectively, strive forward towards their goals with the help of their friends and because of an intense love they feel for someone dear

It is the camaraderie Nando and his teammates have amongst themselves that allows them to pick one another up and help each other survive. Their time in the cordillera formed an unbreakable bond that can only be formed when people share in a near death experience. The depth of this friendship is truly expressed when Roberto says, “You and I are friends, Nando. We have been through so much. Now let’s go die together” (Parrado 203) shortly after they reached the summit of Mount Seler. Roberto and Nando were about to embark on the final leg of their journey to find help, not knowing what obstacles were ahead nor if they would ever return to their fellow survivors alive. At this moment, Nando has reached his resurrection point in his journey: “the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved” (“The Hero’s Journey”). Standing there on top of that mountain, he discovered the true power of love which is “the treasure won by facing death” (“The Hero’s Journey”) in his Hero's Journey. With this insight, Nando no longer questions his purpose on the mountain or the meaning of life. This is the knowledge that Nando will carry with him for the rest of his life and eventually share with the world: “Only love can turn mere life into a miracle, and draw precious meaning from