People inevitably encounter many problematic situations in their lifetime. Some
problems may be more serious than others, but the fact remains that it is
alsways their choice as to how they will react and whether or not they will
“sink or swim.” A survivor is aperson who, depite whatever hardships they
encounter, will face their problems head on and will not back down. They always
do whatever humanly possible overcome these obstaclsand supersede eveyone’s
excpectations and sometimes even their own. Such people share common
characteristics ; steadfest courage, the ability to adapt and adjust and a
perservering attitude. Through Jim and Masdeline Dubois the central characters
in Dust Over the City, the author presents such a case as shown through their
many ordeals and their reactions to them. This is evident in their encounter
with other and Alains patients, their battle with loneliness and the decision to
move to the mining town, adjusting to the new city and accepting the fact with
little provisions this is where they must live now. In Andre Langevins novel
Dust Over the City the characters Alain and Madeline are the embodiment of two
people that are newly wed and the problems that each other face may or may not
be normal. Alain and Madeline were a very unhappy married couple and there were
many things underlying their true feeling about each other. This is proved when
Madeline meets someone. Alain is confronted with this great big beast of a man
who works in a bare and owns the restaurant. The only thing Alain could do to
survive the marriage and win Madelines live back was to fight back despite the
unequal balance and size of strength and the poor odds of winning. When the
author writes “The man was the size of a great black bear against this liitle
man.” This proves Alain love for Madeline was unconditional and leading to
great advances. Through this incident we can readily see that this man was truly
brave. He stood up, remained calm and the ultimately defeated this enormous man
where he could have easily chose to give up and he would of most likely been
slaughtered. It was his bravery that allowed him to survive. Also this married
couple was being torn apart by the wife Madeline. She had moved with Alain to
this new city and Alain a succesful doctor, may not have the greatest looks or a
muscular body but he loves Madeline more than anything in the world. She plays
the unmarried role in front of the city when Alain’s not around. The author
states “She was dancing throughout the night with every guy at every table,
like a single drunk woman would do, not knowing she was married.” (183) Alain
felt that all he could do was love her and treat her the best anyone can treat
someone else that they love. He shows his loyalness to her and gives her the
world and then some. Alain was a man who’s marriage was falling apart because
of his wife who now showed him and proved to him that she was in it for the
money and not for the love. Madeline who showed no care towards the man she had
walked down the aisle with and moved to this city where neither of them wanted
to live but thought that they could live on love. These adventures were also
able to adjust abd adapt to adverse conditions and situations. When Alain and
Madeline had took a trip to the woods one weekend they were presented with very
dreary circumstances. Madeline had badly bruised her leg, their plane was
destroyed and had lost a good portion of their food supply. This is clearly
proven by the quotes, “Let’s see your leg…I bet it hurts, but it isn’t
broken. Only bruised. You will be able to run in a week at least.” (196)
Further , “no fire no food – these were blows to strong to bear,” (199)
but fortunately “ there was enough equipment here for any real woodsman to
make a living for weeks.” (201) Despite these setbacks they were able to live
off the land, catching fish and squirrels for food proving the Dr. Alain Dubois
was more than a doctor. They finally had started a fire with a magnifying glass
and the fire problem had been beaten. These two people were very innovative a
saving their marriage by working together. Creativeness with the equipment that
had been found they had and in dealing with their numerous adversities. They
were able to live off what they had and managed to survive despite limited
supplies and many hardships. They had to learn how to hunt and fish with just
line and hook, showing how they could adapt to the difficult circumstances.
Adaptability is necessary for survival and Alain won’t give in to difficult
situations but they will modify themselves to them because he is a fighter and
not a quitter. The couple’s ability to adjust to a demanding situation is
continually proven and exemplified through the changes the go through in the
novel. A excellent portrayal of this fact is Alain having to guide a group of
four without knowing how to guide. Quote to prove this is “I have never been
in one of those boats. What about fishing “ Oh I know very little about
that”. (209) Madeline watched closely to other guides for the next few days
and was able to learn the necessities of guiding. The following morning Alain
did everything he had watched ad observed the other guides do. He picked up a
wooden box from the store, filled his gas tank, checked with his guests to see
if they wanted beer in the boat, then filled a large pail with ice from the fish
hut and put in twelve bottles of bee. When his guests arrived he got them seated
and fiddled about until Madeline was ready then followed him out on to the lake.
(183) This shows how Alain was able to learn quickly by observations of others
and still be able to be a very successful guide. Alain and Madeline continually
showed a perserving attitude in all the decisions they made and the struggles
they overcame. They never once gave in or considered it as an option. This is
illustrated in their decision to stay in the Barrens and brave the winter
because it was their last option for survival. The dreadful revelations of no
rescue and the departure of Jones didn’t make them want to give up but they
decided to continue to strive to survive. “they knew not to go home” (99)
The characters show their strong will and perseverance in the quotes, “But if
the Eskimos can live here all year long, then so can we,” (100) and, “You
are right. If we can get food and clothes and shelter we will be all right. We
can get all those things if we really try.” (101) Alain and Madeline were
dealt a very serious blow which could have made others want to give up but they
decided to do whatever they could in order to guarantee their survival. They did
feel, at times, that the situation seemed desperate and hopeless but they
overcame these feelings because they knew it would lead them nowhere. It is not
in the their character to “throw in the towel because it is in them to fight
to the very end.” “Alain was continually persistent in everything he did
when a challenger rose he would accept it deovote all his strength to overcoming
it. During his journey to Canada he had to overcome great distnces and defeatd
to get there. Proff of these trials “Then the both stared in horror the canoe
emerged in a quiet eddy at the foot of the reapids” (245). During the duration
of the lengthly trip she struggled to keep up with Alain and Madeline for they
were strong and skilled. They were only able to stay alive with backbreaking
determination and hard work. But despite his sore muscles he plotted onward for
he knew the importance of his job. It meant staying her in the little city and
pusuing his career. “remebering the urgenty need for meet at the home
camps.” (251) Alain showed great strength of will and character in the ardest
journey. Throughout the entire novel Alain had showed his love towards her and
never let her out of his sight. He truly loved this lady with all his heart and
devotion proving in the novel Dust Over The City. He had fixed his marriage with
her and now they both figured out what loved had to do with marriage and it
wasn’t because he was a doctor or because she was beautiful it was the four
letter word love. Love is the most important thing two people can have to love
and be faithful. Some cuples it takes extra long time but they end up loving one
to the point of which they are inseperable which these to people obtained in
their life. Love is an innense word meaning different things to everyone but to
these two it menat saving their marriage and loving each other to the point of
actually death for one another.