In "South," the main idea of resilience is shown through the author's tone, which helps to express how serious the situation is and how determined the leader is. The sad tone captures the emotional loss of the ship, especially when it says, “Straining and groaning, her timbers cracking and her wounds gaping, she is slowly giving up her sentient life.” This gives the ship a human-like quality, showing just how big of a disaster this is and how much the leader cares about the vessel.
But then the tone changes to one of strength when the leader talks to the crew: “I thanked the men for the steadiness and good morale... and told them I had no doubt that... we will all reach safety in the end.” This change shows how he can inspire hope and determination even when things are tough. The difference in tones highlights the emotional and practical toughness needed to face hard times, focusing on teamwork and never giving up during struggles.