Only Glass would be able to empathize with a rattlesnake that would gladly eat his face off given the chance. What's more, he seems to identify with it. Weird, huh? In case you haven't realized it yet, Glass has a rather unique relationship with the natural world—unlike his peers, he sees himself as a part of it.

It helps that Glass spent a year or so with the Pawnee Tribe. This experience not only allows him to better relate with his American Indian peers, but also to utilize a skillset most trappers don't have access to.

Glass keeps himself sane by focusing only on the task at hand rather than worrying about what might happen in the future. To do otherwise would surely lead to, you know, something like madness.

Even with a good attitude, however, survival is going to be a lot easier said than done. Buckle in, Shmoopers, because this is going to be one bumpy ride.

Despite the awful physical pain, the mental anguish, and the sheer terror of being stuck out in the middle of nowhere without even a knife, Glass manages to keep his spirits up. It saves his life. One could easily imagine a lesser man simply giving up in this situation, but we're pretty sure that the phrase "give up" isn't even in Glass's vocabulary.