On July 2, 1816, the French frigate Medusa ran aground, and since there were only enough lifeboats for 250 of its 400 crew members, the remaining 147 survivors built a large raft to hold them. After 13 days of close quarters at sea, and many horrors to stay alive, only 15 of the initial 147 people survived.

The raft was plagued by cannibalism, betrayal, despair and death. The following work is a representation of said historic event for a University course.