The Open Boat: Repeated Phrase And Its Impact

In Stephen Crane's 1897 short story, The Open Boat, the phrase funny they don't see us is repeated three times by the stranded men, reflecting their growing frustration and anger at their situation. The story follows four men—a captain, an oiler, a cook, and a correspondent—struggling to survive in a small boat after their steamer, the Commodore, sinks. As they approach land, they become increasingly desperate to be seen and rescued, yet their pleas seem to go unanswered. This repeated phrase captures the men's mounting despair and their futile attempts to rationalize their predicament.

The repeated phrase shows the men's unwillingness to admit that there may not be rescuers coming

In Stephen Crane's 1897 short story "The Open Boat", the phrase "Funny they don't see us" is repeated three times, with a slight variation in the final repetition, which becomes "Funny they haven't seen us." This story follows four men—a captain, an oiler, a cook, and a correspondent—struggling to survive after their boat capsizes at sea. The repeated phrase reveals the men's unwillingness to admit that there may not be rescuers coming to their aid.

As the men in the boat draw closer to land, they become increasingly frustrated and angry that they have not been spotted by potential rescuers. The captain, recognizing the futility of their situation, states, "There don't seem to be any signs of life about your house of refuge." The cook, in denial about their dire circumstances, responds, "Funny they don't see us!" The other men echo his sentiment, unable to accept the possibility that no one is coming to their rescue. This first repetition of the phrase highlights their initial refusal to acknowledge the harsh reality of their situation.

The second time the phrase is repeated, the men's desperation and frustration have grown. The cook again exclaims, "Funny they don't see us!" This time, the phrase carries a stronger tone of anger and disbelief. The men are unable to comprehend why they are not being seen and rescued, and their repeated use of this phrase reflects their stubborn refusal to accept the possibility that no help is coming.

In the third variation of the phrase, the men's hope has turned into despair. The cook once more voices their shared frustration: "Funny they haven't seen us." This slight change in wording underscores the passage of time and the growing realization that their rescue may not come. Despite this, the men continue to cling to the hope of being seen, unable to fully confront the possibility of being stranded and left to their own devices.

The repeated phrase, "Funny they don't see us," serves as a refrain that underscores the men's unwillingness to accept the harsh reality of their situation. With each repetition, their hope fades, but they continue to cling to the possibility of rescue. This phrase captures the tension between their desire for salvation and the growing realization that they may have to rely solely on their own strength and resilience to survive.

The men's anger at their potential rescuers

The phrase "Funny they don't see us" is repeated three times in Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat." The phrase reflects the anger and frustration of the men towards their potential rescuers, who seem oblivious to their dire situation.

As the story progresses, the men find themselves struggling for survival in an open boat, facing the indifferent and unforgiving nature of the sea. Despite their desperate efforts, they feel that their potential rescuers, the life-saving people, are failing to notice their plight. This perceived indifference fuels their anger and sense of helplessness.

The first instance of the phrase occurs when the cook expresses his optimism that the life-saving people will spot them and come to their aid. However, as time passes without any sign of rescue, the men's frustration grows, leading to the second utterance of the phrase. They cannot fathom why they are not being seen, especially since they are now closer to shore. This repeated phrase highlights their growing anger and sense of injustice at being overlooked.

The third and final utterance of the phrase occurs when the men spot a man on shore, who they believe has noticed their struggle and will alert the life-saving crew. However, their hopes are dashed when they realize that the man is merely waving at them casually, seemingly unaware of their desperate situation. This final repetition of the phrase underscores their anger and frustration at being so close to rescue yet remaining unseen and unsupported.

The repeated phrase, "Funny they don't see us," serves as a refrain that captures the men's increasing anger and desperation. With each repetition, the phrase takes on a more poignant and frustrated tone, reflecting their growing sense of helplessness in the face of indifferent nature and seemingly oblivious potential rescuers.

The men's anger towards their potential rescuers stems from their own sense of powerlessness and the realization that their fate rests in the hands of others. As they struggle to survive, they are forced to confront the cruel indifference of nature and the potential apathy of their fellow humans. This anger is a manifestation of their own fear, desperation, and desire for rescue, directed outward towards those who seem oblivious to their plight.

The men's differing interpretations of the waving man's intentions

The short story "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane features four men stranded in a small boat in the ocean, struggling to survive. As they near the shore, they notice a man on the beach waving at them. The men interpret the waving man's intentions differently, reflecting their varying levels of optimism and pessimism.

The captain, ever the optimist, believes that the waving man is signalling that help is on the way. He exclaims, "Now we're all right! There'll be a boat out here for us in half-an-hour." He remains confident that their rescue is imminent, even when the waving man disappears into the gloom of dusk.

The cook, initially hopeful, becomes more pessimistic as time passes without any sign of rescue. He expresses frustration at the waving man, saying, "I'd like to catch the chump who waved the coat. I feel like soaking him one, just for luck." He feels that the man's cheerful waving was insensitive to their dire situation.

The oiler, like the captain, maintains a positive outlook. He agrees with the captain's interpretation that the waving man is signalling the location of a life-saving station further north. He actively participates in trying to interpret the man's signals, asking, "Is he waving at us?" and stating, "It looks as if he were trying to tell us to go north."

The correspondent, the most pessimistic of the group, does not share their optimism. He believes that the waving man is simply greeting them and has no intention of helping. He sarcastically remarks, "That's all we need now, a cheery little wave to send us on to eternity." He is frustrated by the man's inability to understand their situation, wishing the man would "stop waving that coat long enough so we can tell him we're ... dying."

Despite their differing interpretations, all four men are united by their shared desire to be rescued and their frustration at the seeming indifference of the people on shore. The captain, cook, and oiler take turns interpreting the waving man's signals, while the correspondent remains sceptical, highlighting the tension and desperation of their situation.

The monotony and suffering of rowing

In Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat," the phrase "the oiler rowed, and then the correspondent rowed" is repeated three times, emphasising the monotony and suffering of the men as they struggle to survive. Rowing becomes a never-ending cycle of physical exertion and pain, with the men taking turns at the oars as they battle against the unforgiving sea.

The relentless and repetitive nature of rowing is highlighted through the repeated phrase, creating a sense of tedium and exhaustion. The men are trapped in a relentless cycle, with no end in sight. The act of rowing becomes a source of misery and despair, as they fight against the powerful forces of nature.

The physical toll of rowing is evident in the aching backs of the oiler and the correspondent, who groan about their hatred for the task. The correspondent, in particular, is described as feeling so miserable that he contemplates giving up and "tumbl [ing] comfortably out upon the oceans," likening it to sinking into a "great soft mattress." The endless rowing takes a mental and emotional toll, in addition to the physical strain.

The repetition of the phrase "the oiler rowed, and then the correspondent rowed" underscores the relentless and arduous nature of their struggle for survival. It serves as a stark reminder of the men's vulnerability in the face of the vast and unforgiving sea. With each stroke of the oar, they are confronted by the overwhelming power of nature, their small boat dwarfed by the towering waves.

The phrase, repeated three times, creates a sense of hopelessness and monotony. The men are trapped in a cycle of suffering, their fate uncertain. The act of rowing becomes a metaphor for their relentless struggle to survive, each stroke of the oar bringing them closer to either rescue or disaster. The repeated phrase underscores the relentless and unyielding nature of their journey, highlighting the endurance and resilience required to face the unpredictable sea.

The men's optimism and cheerfulness in the face of danger

In Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat", the phrase "Funny they don't see us" is repeated three times by the men stranded at sea, reflecting their optimism and cheerfulness in the face of danger. Despite their dire situation, they maintain a sense of humor and camaraderie, personifying fate as an "old ninny-woman" and shaking their fists at the sky in defiance. This repeated phrase shows their unwillingness to accept that no one is coming to their rescue.

The men's optimism is evident in their belief that someone will eventually spot them and that their struggles will soon be over. They take comfort in the idea that the people on shore are simply ignorant tourists rather than life-saving professionals. Even when they realize the shore is deserted, they remain hopeful, saying, "In an hour, perhaps--maybe two--we'll be ashore--dry and fed." They celebrate with a drink, and one of them even produces dry matches, a small comfort in their situation.

The cook embodies this cheerfulness, maintaining his positive outlook even in his sleep. When the others lament their fate, he asks the oiler about his favorite pie flavor. Later, he expresses his frustration with the man on shore who waved at them, not because of his inaction, but because "he seemed so damned cheerful." The cook's optimism persists even as night falls and their situation becomes more treacherous.

Throughout their ordeal, the men find humor in their circumstances, referring to fate as an "old hen" and the sea gods as a "cheery little wave" sending them to eternity. Despite the danger and uncertainty, their repeated phrase, "Funny they don't see us," reflects their enduring optimism and refusal to succumb to despair. They maintain their sense of humor and camaraderie, even in the face of life's unpredictability and nature's indifference.

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