Summary Of 438 Days By Salvador Alvarenga

Blue, stretching farther than the human eye can see, drifting in no direction at all, in the middle of the Pacific ocean, wondering when this nightmare will end. Taking a deep breath, smelling only the salty sea and hearing the chirps of the birds. The only food is the creatures from the depths of the dark, endless ocean, the only drink is the rain from the blue sky. There is no escape from this nightmare, no escape from the monster that is the ocean. This is how Salvador Alvarenga feels in the biography, 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathon Franklin. Salvador Alvarenga is a deep sea fisherman who grew up in El Salvador but leaves because it is too dangerous and becomes an established fisherman in Costa Azul,

These actions occur during Alvarenga and Cordóba’s battle to get back home after being lost at sea. When they get lost at sea, It is a battle for life and death and they need to make the most of every opportunity in order to survive. Alvarenga realizes that every decision could be fatal, he knows not to pass up any meals, even in good times because there definitely will be bad times. During those times it will be important to have leftovers from previous success. Alvarenga notices that “In the late afternoon and evening, birds, including small black terns landed on the boat to rest then sleep. Alvarenga ambushed them again and again until he had filled his boat to maximum capacity”. (Franklin 156). It is very strategic to fill a boat to maximum capacity so that food will be available during a drought. Being strategic is very important for Salvador Alvarenga because, without a strategy, he will probably die. This will happen because he won’t know what to do and he will not have a plan. Jonathon Franklin uses actions to illustrate the strategicness in Salvador

When Salvador Alvarenga gets on his fishing boat, he brings a man named Ezequiel Cordóba with him as a replacement for his ill partner. When the boat goes down, Cordóba is paralyzed by fear; Alvarenga takes care of Cordoba and gives him pep talks about them one day returning home. ‘“I told him to scout the waves, to pay attention. To hold on to the boat. I tried to explain what was about to happen and what he should do.”’ (Franklin 47). The character affects others in a hopeful way because he tries to get Córdoba to calm down, convincing him that everything will be ok. This trait is important for the character because if Alvarenga does not make Cordóba hopeful, he will be extremely frightened the entire time. If he was frightened the whole time, he probably would not know what to do the whole time, and would not help with catching food, gathering water, or doing other necessary chores. Jonathon Franklin demonstrates the hope inside of Salvador Alvarenga through effects on others. Jonathon Franklin demonstrates the hope inside of Salvador Alvarenga through effects on