Helena Frye
In Stephen Crane's short story, 'The Open Boat', four men are stranded at sea in a small dinghy after their ship, the SS Commodore, sinks off the coast of Florida. The story is based on Crane's own experience of surviving a shipwreck in 1896 while travelling to Cuba as a newspaper correspondent. Crane and three other men spent thirty hours in a small boat before attempting to reach the shore at Daytona Beach. The boat overturned, forcing the exhausted men to swim to shore, and one of them, an oiler named Billie Higgins, drowned.
What You'll Learn
The crew's struggle to survive
As they rode the waves, the men caught glimpses of the shore, a lighthouse, and a man on the beach, giving them hope that rescue was near. However, their optimism was short-lived as they realised no help was coming. The captain, injured during the shipwreck, led the crew with grim determination, knowing that their survival depended on reaching land.
The correspondent, reflecting on their dire situation, felt the absurdity of their struggle. He questioned why they had been allowed to come so far, only to face possible drowning. Despite their efforts, the sea seemed indifferent to their fate.
The men faced physical and mental challenges as they fought to stay alive. The relentless waves and cold seawater took a toll on their bodies, while the uncertainty of their fate weighed on their minds. They took comfort in the camaraderie that formed among them—a "subtle brotherhood" that warmed them even as they faced the elements.
As their journey wore on, the crew's strength waned, and the oiler, the strongest among them, took on a double shift at the oars. Despite their determination, they were unable to overcome the powerful forces of nature. In the end, their boat capsized, and they were forced to swim for their lives.
Only three of the four men made it to shore, with the oiler tragically losing his life. The survivors were met by rescuers, who provided much-needed assistance and warmth. The crew's struggle to survive had been a gruelling test of endurance, both physical and mental, against the unforgiving sea.
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The indifference of nature
Nature's indifference is a central theme in Stephen Crane's short story, 'The Open Boat'. The story is based on Crane's own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1896. In the story, four men—the correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler—are stranded in a small dinghy after their ship sinks. They battle rough seas and fight to stay alive as they try to reach the shore.
The story explores the idea that nature is indifferent to human suffering and fate. This indifference is highlighted in the description of the sea and the waves, which are described as "wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall", with "each froth-top...a problem in small boat navigation". The waves are a constant threat to the men, yet the sea remains indifferent to their struggle for survival. This indifference is further emphasised by the description of the gulls, which are "at ease on the ocean", in contrast to the men, who are exhausted and fighting for their lives.
As the story progresses, the men's hope alternates with despair as they face setbacks and challenges. Despite their efforts, nature remains indifferent to their fate. This is most starkly portrayed in the final chapter, when the men decide to abandon the dinghy and swim for shore. The oiler, the strongest of the four, swims ahead but ultimately drowns, his body washed up on the beach. The indifference of nature is highlighted in this tragic outcome, underscoring the powerlessness of the men in the face of the unforgiving sea.
Throughout the story, the men's struggle to survive is contrasted with the serene and unyielding force of nature. The correspondent, in particular, grapples with the idea that nature does not regard him as important, and that his existence or demise would not impact the universe. This realisation leads to a sense of existential crisis and rage against the universe for its apparent indifference.
The story's exploration of nature's indifference serves as a backdrop for the men's internal struggles and the bonds they form. Despite their desperate situation, they find solace and strength in their shared experience, creating a "subtle brotherhood" that warms them. This camaraderie becomes a source of hope and resilience in the face of nature's indifference.
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The crew's dwindling hope
As the story unfolds, the men's hope fluctuates—at times, they feel optimistic and resilient, while at other times, they are overwhelmed by despair and fatigue. Here is an exploration of the crew's dwindling hope:
The Brutal Reality
The story begins with the four men adrift in a small dinghy, facing the brutal reality of their situation. They are exhausted, having gone without sleep for two days, and their chances of survival seem slim. The correspondent, one of the men, reflects on the absurdity of their predicament, questioning why he has been allowed to come so far only to face possible death. This sense of injustice is a recurring theme in the story, reflecting the men's dwindling hope.
The Lighthouse
As the men row toward shore, they spot a lighthouse in the distance, and their spirits are momentarily lifted. They begin to believe that rescue is imminent. However, their optimism fades when they realise no help is coming. The lighthouse, instead of being a symbol of hope, becomes a reminder of their isolation and vulnerability.
Comradeship
Despite their dire situation, the men find solace in their shared experience. Crane describes a "subtle brotherhood" among them, a bond forged in adversity. This camaraderie becomes a source of strength and hope, as they rely on each other for survival. The injured captain, though dejected, still commands the respect and obedience of his crew. Their unity in the face of danger is a powerful counterpoint to their dwindling hope.
The Elusive Rescue
As the men continue their arduous journey, their hope rises and falls with each potential sign of rescue. They spot a man on shore and think he is waving at them. They see what might be another boat, and their spirits lift. But these hopes are quickly dashed when they realise no help is coming. The elusive nature of rescue keeps the men in a constant state of uncertainty, their hope fluctuating with each new development.
The Open Sea
At one point, the men turn the boat back out to sea, seeking refuge from the treacherous surf. The open sea, which had once seemed so threatening, now offers a temporary respite. The oiler, Billie, a skilled seaman, takes charge, and his steady presence provides a glimmer of hope. However, their situation remains precarious, and the men are constantly reminded of their vulnerability.
The Final Struggle
As the story draws to a close, the men make a desperate decision to abandon the dinghy and swim for shore. It is a risky move, and their dwindling hope is reflected in the captain's grim statement: "If we stay out here too long, we'll none of us have strength left to swim after the boat swamps." They know their chances of survival are slim, but they forge ahead nonetheless.
In the end, three of the four men make it to shore, but the oiler, Billie, the strongest of them, drowns. The story is a powerful portrayal of the men's dwindling hope, reflecting the cruel indifference of nature and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
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The crew's physical exhaustion
The correspondent and the oiler shared the work of rowing, while the cook huddled in the bottom of the boat, bailing out water. The correspondent wondered ingenuously how anyone could find rowing amusing. To him, it was "a diabolical punishment, and even a genius of mental aberrations could never conclude that it was anything but a horror to the muscles and a crime against the back." The oiler, too, agreed that he did not like to row. Despite their exhaustion, the men took turns rowing throughout the night, with the correspondent and the oiler alternating when they lost the ability to continue.
The physical demands of rowing were immense, and the men's bodies became theatres of innumerable muscular conflicts, tangles, wrenches, knots, and other discomforts. The correspondent reflected on the absurdity of his situation: "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?"
The crew's exhaustion also affected their mental state. They became increasingly bitter and hopeless, making dark and opprobrious remarks about their situation. The correspondent, for instance, began to question the very nature of existence: "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 the fact that there are no bricks and no temples."
As they neared the shore, the captain suggested they try to run the surf while they still had the energy. Despite their utter exhaustion, the men took the boat shoreward until it capsized, and then they made a break for it in the icy water. The oiler, being the strongest swimmer, led the group. The correspondent was caught in a current that forced him back to the boat, but he was eventually saved by a man who had plunged into the sea to rescue the crew.
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The crew's eventual rescue
However, as the day turned to night, the men's hopes faded. The man on the shore had disappeared, and the boat they had seen earlier was, in fact, an omnibus. The correspondent grew angry, wishing he could catch the man who had been waving at them cheerfully and give him a "soaking".
The correspondent and the oiler took turns rowing through the night, guided by the northern light on the horizon. The captain, who had been dozing, woke and told them to row the boat out to sea again, as the current was taking them too close to shore, where they would surely be swamped by the waves. The correspondent and the oiler exchanged places, and the correspondent fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke, the correspondent saw the captain dozing and the oiler rowing. The captain woke and directed the cook to take one of the oars at the stern and keep the boat facing the waves. This allowed the oiler and the correspondent to rest together. The captain said they would give the other two "a chance to get into shape again".
As dawn broke, the correspondent saw the shore, with its black cottages and tall white windmill. The boat was headed for the beach. The correspondent knew that they would swamp for sure, and the oiler took the oars. The monstrous rollers heaved the boat high, and the men could see the waves crashing on the beach. The captain told them to keep cool and not jump until the boat swamped for sure.
The next wave crashed over the boat, filling it with water, and the next one after that. The oiler told the others to get ready to jump, and the next wave "fairly swallowed the dingey". The men tumbled into the sea, and the correspondent, with a piece of a life-belt under him, paddled leisurely towards the shore. However, he soon found himself stuck in a current, unable to make progress.
The correspondent saw the cook pass him, with the captain calling to him. Then the correspondent saw the captain clinging to the keel of the boat, which was being dragged along by the waves. The correspondent struggled to reach the captain and the boat, reflecting that if he drowned, it would be a shame.
Then he saw a man running along the shore, undressing as he went. The man dragged the cook out of the water and then waded towards the correspondent, but the captain waved him away, sending him to rescue the correspondent instead. The man gave a strong pull and a long drag, and the correspondent, exhausted, made it to shore.
The correspondent fell to the sand, and when he regained his senses, he saw a large group of people on the shore, with blankets, clothes, flasks, and coffee-pots. The captain and the cook had been saved, but the oiler had died.
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Frequently asked questions
The crew of the open boat faced a series of challenges and dangers as they navigated the open sea in a small dinghy. They battled rough waters, fatigue, and the elements, and ultimately made their way to shore, but not before facing tragedy.
The crew faced a constant struggle to keep their small boat from capsizing in the rough waters. They also had to deal with fatigue, as they had not slept for two days prior to the sinking of their ship. In addition, they faced the threat of sharks and the uncertainty of whether they would be rescued.
The crew faced the constant danger of their boat capsizing or being swamped by the waves. They also faced the threat of sharks, and one crew member, the oiler, Billie Higgins, drowned after the boat overturned as they attempted to reach the shore.
The crew took turns rowing the boat, with the correspondent and the oiler sharing the rowing duties. The captain, who was injured during the shipwreck, directed the crew, and the cook bailed water to keep the boat afloat.
As the crew approached the shore, they were met by strong currents and treacherous surf. They eventually decided to abandon their boat and swim to shore. Three of the four crew members made it to safety, while the oiler, Billie, drowned.
