The hatchet becomes the most important item in Brian’s life after the plane crashes. It is a gift from his mother and his last tie to his life back home. It is a bitter truth that if his mother had not cheated on his father, he would not have needed the hatchet or been on that airplane at all. Yet, without it, he might not have survived in the wilderness. The hatchet enables Brian to make fire, chop firewood, and prepare food and shelter. It is a simple, man-made tool that becomes a lifeline. In the end, it is the hatchet that allows Brian to access the interior of the wrecked plane, which leads to the emergency transmitter. In this way, the hatchet is responsible not only for his successful survival but also for his rescue.

Time and again Brian must endure injury, hunger, thirst, and sickness. He learns that being physically strong is helpful, but that emotional fortitude is far more important to survival. When he loses the ability to think positively, he sinks into panic, irrational thinking, and depression. This even leads him to try to kill himself. However, his physical wounds heal, proving that the real danger is in giving up hope.