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I think one of the most poignant characteristics that is portrayed in these accounts is pride. The weather forecasters in Washington refused to believe the storm warnings from Cuba because of their excessive pride and superiority. If they had even once considered that there might have been at least a little truth in their claims and had made further investigations, who knows if the people of Galvesston may have evacuated to safety? If Dr. Young had not been so comfortable in the midst of the chaos, maybe he would have survived. If Isaac had not been so preoccupied with the competition against his brother Joseph, maybe he would have been able to carefully investigate and accurately predict the course of the storm, saving many lives, including the life of his wife. If the entire town of Galveston had not been so prideful of their own success, maybe they would have taken previous precautions and damage would not have been as significant. The overt pride that is seen in these multiple cases is the same pride of the Chicagoans before the fire destroyed their city. They thought that they would be impenetrable, indestructible, thus indicating the “unpreparedness that comes from human nature” that derekjahwu wrote about in his blog post.
However, I think that this characteristic of pride before the storm hits is juxtaposed with humility and desperation during and after the hurricane. This is seen first when multiple families, even “an unidentified black man and his wife” gathered at Judson Palmer’s house for safety (84). The idea of safety and refuge and a possibility of saving their lives brought all these people together. They were not afraid to ask for help, regardless of their age or race, because they knew that they all had the same desire to live. The pride and competition between Joseph and Isaac is also juxtaposed with sudden compassion when they meet during the storm, and Joseph recounts that his “heart suddenly leaped with uncontrollable joy” (218). They may have spent their entire lives fighting and competing for favor, but Larson conveys the idea that people ultimately cling on to what is most important to them in times of chaos. People hold on to what is familiar, what they long to keep and remember.