The Mountain Between Us

As a work of survival romance, The Mountain Between Us explores the strength of its two protagonists, Ashley and Ben, as they’re forced into life-or-death situations in the wilderness. They battle dangerous elements, including cold, elevation, lack of food, injuries, and extreme isolation. However, their ability to survive despite these circumstances emphasizes their resiliency.

Ben’s physical and emotional strength are central to their survival. Immediately after their crash, he assesses their situation, repairing Ashley’s dislocated shoulder and treating her broken leg. He then checks their surroundings, using the GPS to draw a map of the area. Despite the complete lack of anything man-made and their isolation, he begins to form a plan to lower their elevation and increase their chances of being rescued. As they travel, Ben battles through injury, hunger, and extreme exhaustion. At one point, he wakes up face down in the snow after his “hands had cramped from holding on to the front of the sled behind [him], trying to prevent Ashley’s head from beating about. The straps were cutting into [his shoulders] and [he] couldn’t really feel [his] legs”; he “did not expect to wake up” (200). Several moments like this emphasize the precariousness of their situation; however, they also emphasize Ben’s resilience. Each time, he finds the strength to get up again, ultimately finding rescue and enabling them both to survive.

In addition to his resilience in the novel’s present, his strength is evident in flashbacks revealing his personal history. As a child, he lost his mother after his father kept her “hopping from one rehab center to the next” and lived for years with his emotionally and physically abusive father (51). Then, he lost Rachel—the love of his life—when she died during her pregnancy. Despite these traumatic experiences, Ben continued to live his life, becoming a successful doctor and finding ways to cope with the loss of his wife. His ability to continue living—and his will to survive the harsh conditions in the wilderness—emphasize his strength of spirit and resilience.

Ashley’s character similarly conveys the theme of resilience. She also battles harsh conditions and injuries to survive. While Ben is vital to their survival due to his knowledge of the wilderness and his physical mobility, Ashley is essential to their emotional health. She uses her sense of humor throughout the experience, giving Ben strength by making him laugh despite their difficult situation. Additionally, she sacrifices her own body to help save him in the final moments of their journey. When Ben ends up face down in the snow after it gives way and is unable to climb out of the hole, she pulls him out despite the pain of her rebroken leg. Then, she encourages him to run to safety, leaving her behind to ensure that they have a chance of survival. Despite everything Ashley experiences, she stays optimistic throughout, overcoming her physical restrictions to do what she can to help ensure their survival.

Ben’s and Ashley’s characters highlight the strength of the human spirit. As they face daunting odds in the wilderness, they survive for four weeks with little food while facing extreme weather and isolation. Their ability to survive—and to remain optimistic while doing so—emphasizes humanity’s resilience and its ability to overcome daunting odds.