The Open Boat: American Society's Reflection

Stephen Crane's short story 'The Open Boat' is a work of literary naturalism, exploring the conflict between man and nature, and the indifference of the latter. Based on Crane's own experience of surviving a shipwreck, the story follows four men—a correspondent, a cook, a captain, and an oiler—as they attempt to survive in a dinghy on rough seas. The men's struggle against the elements underscores the indifference of nature, and their solidarity in the face of certain death. The story's themes of survival, camaraderie, and man's insignificance in the universe reflect the deterministic and pessimistic nature of naturalism, highlighting the powerlessness of individuals against external forces.

Nature's indifference to man

The story's four characters—the correspondent, the cook, the captain, and the oiler—are adrift in a dinghy, facing the elements. Initially, the sea is described as a hostile force, snarling, hissing, and bucking like a bronco. However, as the story progresses, the men's perception of the sea changes. The sea does not change; the gulls, clouds, and tides continue their activities unaltered by the men's plight, illustrating nature's indifference.

The sea is as randomly helpful as it is hurtful. The men experience unexpected good turns in the form of favourable winds or calm nights, and the correspondent is ultimately rescued by a freak wave. This same wave may also be responsible for killing the oiler, the strongest swimmer, demonstrating nature's random indifference and lack of motivation that we can understand.

The men's realisation of nature's indifference leads to a sense of loneliness and insignificance in the universe. The correspondent, in particular, feels alienated, fearing that he will perish without a connection to whatever gives him his sense of self. He settles into despair, deciding that there is no higher purpose to surviving other than prolonging a life that is ultimately meaningless.

Crane's story is a perfect example of Naturalism, an offshoot of the Realist literary movement. It is characterised by a deterministic view, where human beings have no control over the events in their lives, and their fates are out of their grasp.

Man's insignificance in the universe

"The Open Boat" is a short story by American author Stephen Crane, first published in 1898. It is based on Crane's experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida while travelling to Cuba to work as a newspaper correspondent. The story is often considered a principal example of Naturalism, an offshoot of the Realist literary movement, in which scientific principles of objectivity and detachment are applied to the study of human characteristics.

The story's narrator, an anonymous correspondent, regularly refers to the sea with feminine pronouns, pitting the four men in the boat against an intangible, yet effeminate, threat. This personification of nature as a hostile force set against them later shifts, as the men come to believe that nature is instead ambivalent. The correspondent rethinks his view of nature's hostility:

> [S]he did not seem cruel to him, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent.

The correspondent's perception of himself and the world around him is also constantly questioned; he regularly refers to the way things "seemed" or "appeared", leaving how a thing actually "was" entirely ambiguous.

The men's struggle against nature is underscored by their inability to rely on a higher cause or being for protection. The correspondent laments the lack of religious support, as well as his inability to blame God for his misfortunes. He muses:

> When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply that there are no bricks and no temples.

The men's collective rants at fate and the universe are underscored by the fear of nothingness. They have an egotistical belief that they should have a role in the universe, that their existence should mean something. When the correspondent realises that fate will not answer his pleas, he settles into despair.

The men's understanding of pain also shifts throughout the story. In the earlier sections, the correspondent is often cheerful and talkative in his descriptions of the physical pain he experiences. By the end of the story, however, the correspondent’s new awareness that the universe is unconcerned with the situation’s outcome makes him physically and spiritually weary. He decides that there is no higher purpose to surviving other than prolonging a life that is meaningless.

The men's struggle against nature is the most apparent theme in the work. While the characters at first believe the turbulent sea to be a hostile force set against them, they come to believe that nature is instead ambivalent. The unaltered activity of the gulls, clouds, and tides illustrates that nature does not behave any differently in light of the men’s struggle to survive.

The men's perception of nature's hostility is further challenged by the fact that, for every malevolent whim that the men suffer, they experience an unexpected good turn in the form of a favourable wind or calm night. The fact that the men almost seem to get assistance from nature destroys the notion of nature as an entirely hostile force.

Society as meaning in a harsh world

In "The Open Boat", Stephen Crane explores the theme of society as meaning in a harsh world. The story is based on Crane's own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1897. Crane and three other men were stranded at sea for thirty hours, during which they faced the relentless forces of nature.

The story depicts the four men—the correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler—as they struggle to survive in a small dinghy. They must navigate rough seas, battling waves, sharks, fatigue, and the elements. Despite their individual differences, the men form a bond and work together to survive. Crane describes their "subtle brotherhood" as a "warm" and "personal and heartfelt" connection.

The harsh and indifferent nature of their surroundings brings the men together, creating a microcosm of society within the dinghy. They recognise that unity and cooperation are essential for survival. The men derive meaning and purpose from their shared struggle, finding solace and strength in their shared humanity.

The indifference of nature is a recurring theme in the story. The sea is described as "indifferent, flatly indifferent", highlighting its lack of concern for the men's plight. This indifference extends to the universe itself, as the men grapple with their insignificance in the grand scheme of things. They realise that nature is neither hostile nor benevolent but simply indifferent, acting with random indifference towards their struggles.

Through the characters' experiences, Crane suggests that it is human society and solidarity that provide meaning in a harsh and indifferent world. The men's shared struggle and mutual reliance become a source of purpose and hope, even in the face of nature's indifference.

Determinism

Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" is a short story based on his own experience of surviving a shipwreck. The story explores the conflict between man and nature, and the powerlessness of humans in the face of nature's indifference. This theme of determinism, or lack of free will, is a key aspect of literary naturalism, a movement in American literature that coincided with realism in the post-Civil War period.

Naturalism is often described as an "emphasized realism" that focuses on the dregs of society and urbanized environments. It is characterized by a deterministic worldview, which posits that the events in a person's life are beyond their control. In "The Open Boat," this is reflected in the powerlessness of the four characters to escape their harrowing situation at sea. Despite their efforts and unity, they are at the mercy of the indifferent forces of nature, such as the tide, wind, and water.

The deterministic philosophy of naturalism was influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which suggested that biological and environmental forces control human beings. This led naturalists like Crane to be skeptical of organized religion and the belief in human free will. They believed that human behaviour could be explained through natural science and that the universe, rather than any divine power, was responsible for the actions that took place.

In "The Open Boat," Crane's characters struggle against nature and question the injustice of their situation, wondering why they are being drowned despite their efforts to survive. However, they eventually realize that nature is indifferent to their fate and that their survival is largely a matter of chance rather than their own actions. This sense of powerlessness and the randomness of nature's control is a key aspect of determinism in the story.

The deterministic theme in "The Open Boat" is further emphasized by the use of nameless characters, signifying that nature does not discriminate based on human hierarchy. Everyone, regardless of their social standing, is treated alike by the indifferent forces of the universe. This naturalistic mode of writing, with its pessimistic tone and external forces indifferent to the characters, is a powerful tool used by Crane to explore the limitations of human free will and the overwhelming power of nature.

Pessimism

Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" is a short story based on his own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1897. The story is told from the perspective of an anonymous correspondent, with Crane as the implied author. The story is considered an exemplary work of literary Naturalism, an offshoot of the Realist literary movement, and is known for its exploration of themes such as pessimism, survival, solidarity, and the conflict between man and nature.

"The Open Boat" conveys a sense of pessimism through its depiction of the characters' struggle against nature and their realisation of their insignificance in the face of indifferent and unpredictable forces. The story begins with the four characters—the correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler—adrift in a dinghy after a shipwreck. Throughout their ordeal, they battle unfavourable tides, winds, and waves, questioning their ability to survive and even contemplating their own mortality. The captain, usually the source of encouragement, expresses pessimism at various points in the story, such as when he says, "If we don't all get ashore, I suppose you fellows know where to send news of my finish." This sense of despair is heightened by the fact that it comes from the leader of the group.

The characters' pessimism is further fuelled by their encounters with other people. When they see people waving at them from a distant shore, their inability to convey their distress and the onlookers' indifference lead them to question humanity's ability to comprehend and help each other. This sense of pessimism is reflected in their words: "Maybe they think we're out here for sport. Maybe they think we're fishing. Maybe they think we're damn fools."

The story also explores the existential fear of the characters as they confront the indifference of nature. The correspondent, in particular, struggles with the realisation that nature does not regard him as important, and he laments the lack of religious support or a higher power to blame for his misfortunes. This sense of pessimism and despair is evident in his thoughts: "When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply that there are no bricks and no temples."

The physical and mental exhaustion of the characters contributes to the overall sense of pessimism in the story. As they battle the elements, their muscles ache, their psyche is tested, and they constantly struggle against the forces of nature. The correspondent's refrain, "If I am going to be drowned—if I am going to be drowned—if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees?" reflects his ritualistic expression of despair and existential drift.

The story's pessimistic tone is further emphasised by the characters' constant struggle and sense of hopelessness. They are always battling something, be it waves, sharks, their physical limitations, or their mental acceptance of a nature they don't control. This belittling of the characters contributes to the cynical and morbid view of life portrayed in the story. The characters are portrayed as puppets of external forces, whether it be fate, nature, or a combination of both. The indifference of nature is highlighted by the random and uncontrollable factors that affect the characters, such as the changing winds, currents, and the presence of sharks.

In conclusion, "The Open Boat" conveys pessimism through the characters' struggle for survival, their questioning of their place in the universe, their encounters with indifferent humans, and the relentless forces of nature that they battle throughout the story. This pessimistic tone contributes to the overall sense of despair and the realisation of the characters' insignificance in the face of indifferent and unpredictable forces.

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