The Open Boat By Crane: A Naturalistic Tale

'The Open Boat' is a short story by American author Stephen Crane, first published in 1897, a year after he survived a shipwreck off the coast of Florida. Crane was travelling to Cuba as a newspaper correspondent when his ship, the SS Commodore, sank, leaving him stranded at sea for thirty hours with three other men. Crane's subsequent short story is a fictionalised account of this experience, told from the point of view of an anonymous correspondent, with Crane as the implied author. The story explores themes of survival, solidarity, and the conflict between man and nature, and is considered an exemplary work of literary Naturalism.

Naturalism and realism in Crane's writing

Stephen Crane's writing is often associated with the literary movements of Realism and Naturalism. Realism, which emerged in the 19th century, tended to focus on the travails of life in the upper classes, with a particular emphasis on literary technique. In contrast, Naturalism, which coincided with Realism during the post-Civil War period, moved away from the middle-class focus of Realism and instead centred on the dregs of society. It was influenced by social and scientific theories, including Darwin's "The Origin of the Species", and often depicted characters surviving in grittier, urbanised environments.

Crane's writing exemplifies the characteristics of both Realism and Naturalism. His works, including "The Red Badge of Courage", "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets", and "The Open Boat", are known for their realistic portrayals of battle sequences, colour imagery, and ironic tone. These stories reflect the inner experiences of their protagonists rather than the external world around them, marking a departure from traditional war narratives.

Crane's writing also embodies the deterministic nature of Naturalism, where characters are thwarted by external forces beyond their control, including an indifferent nature. "The Open Boat", in particular, is praised for its innovation and considered an exemplary work of literary Naturalism. The story is based on Crane's personal experience of surviving a shipwreck and showcases the author's ability to combine imagery, irony, symbolism, and the exploration of themes such as survival, solidarity, and the conflict between man and nature.

In "The Open Boat", Crane's use of imagery and symbolism underscores the indifference of nature and the struggle for survival. The men in the boat grapple with the realisation that nature is ambivalent, neither cruel nor beneficent, but flatly indifferent to their fate. This indifference is further emphasised by the use of feminine pronouns to describe the sea, creating an intangible, yet effeminate, threat. The men's brotherhood and solidarity in the face of their predicament become a source of solace and highlight the human capacity for resilience and camaraderie in the face of adversity.

Crane's writing, with its blend of Realism and Naturalism, offers a unique perspective on the human condition, exploring the complexities of the individual's place in the universe and the role of fate, nature, and societal forces in shaping one's destiny. Through his writing, Crane invites readers to contemplate the existential questions that arise when confronted with the indifference of nature and the unpredictable forces that shape our lives.

Crane's personal experience of shipwreck

In 1896, 25-year-old Stephen Crane, a war correspondent for the Bacheller newspaper syndicate, boarded the steamship SS Commodore on New Year's Eve. The ship was headed from Jacksonville, Florida, to Cuba, carrying 27 or 28 men, as well as a cargo of supplies and ammunition for the Cuban rebels.

In the early hours of January 2, 1897, the Commodore struck a sandbar in a dense fog, damaging its hull. The ship was towed off the sandbar the following day but was beached again in Mayport, Florida, and further damaged. That evening, a leak began in the boiler room, and the ship's malfunctioning water pumps caused it to come to a standstill about 16 miles from Mosquito Inlet. As the ship took on more water, Crane described the engine room as resembling "a scene at this time taken from the middle kitchen of Hades."

Commodore's lifeboats were lowered, and the ship sank at 7 a.m. Crane was one of the last to leave the ship, joining three other men—an injured captain, Edward Murphy; an oiler, Billie Higgins; and the ship's steward, Charles B. Montgomery—in a 10-foot dinghy. They floundered off the coast of Florida for a day and a half, in sight of land but unable to make a landing due to the harsh tidal waters.

Crane and Higgins took turns rowing toward a safe landing point, facing the delicate task of changing positions in the nearly submerged boat. During the ordeal, the men spotted people on the shore and attempted to signal for help. Finally, in the early morning of January 3, they attempted to land their craft at Daytona Beach. However, the small boat overturned in the surf, forcing the exhausted men to swim to shore. Sadly, Higgins, the strongest of the four, drowned, and his body was found washed up on the beach.

The story's exploration of survival and solidarity

"The Open Boat" is a short story by American author Stephen Crane, first published in 1897. The story explores themes of survival and solidarity, reflecting on the harsh unpredictability of life.

Crane masterfully captures the physical and emotional turmoil faced by the four men stranded in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. The story unfolds as the men face exhaustion, hunger, and the constant threat of the relentless waves. Through their shared ordeal, the men form a strong bond, their collective identity as "the men" taking precedence over their individual professions. This sense of brotherhood and camaraderie provides solace and strength in the face of their dire circumstances.

The story's exploration of survival is evident in the men's relentless struggle to stay afloat and reach land. Despite their exhaustion and the unforgiving sea, they persevere, taking turns rowing and bailing water to keep the boat from capsizing. Their will to survive is exemplified in 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?"

The men's solidarity is also tested when they realize that no help is coming from the shore. They must rely on each other to navigate the treacherous waters and make difficult decisions, such as whether to continue rowing or take their chances swimming to shore. Despite their differences in rank and personality, they unite in their shared goal of survival, forming a "subtle brotherhood" that is unspoken yet deeply felt.

The story's ending is a poignant illustration of both survival and solidarity. The men ultimately decide to abandon the boat and swim for shore, with the oiler, Billie, leading the way. Sadly, Billie is the only one who does not make it to safety, perishing in the waves despite being the strongest physically. The story's exploration of survival and solidarity is thus intertwined, as the men's shared struggle forges an unbreakable bond, even in the face of tragedy.

Crane's portrayal of the struggle between man and nature

Stephen Crane's short story, 'The Open Boat', is a naturalist tale based on his own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1896. It is a story of man's struggle against nature, and nature's indifference to man.

Crane's story is told from the point of view of an anonymous correspondent, with Crane as the implied author. The correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler are stranded in a small dinghy, battling the sea and its pounding waves. The story is a portrayal of man's struggle against nature, and the indifference of nature to man's fate.

The men are at the mercy of the sea, and the waves are described as "wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall". The correspondent notes that the waves are a "problem in small boat navigation", and the men are forced to keep their eyes "fastened upon the waves that swept towards them". The sea is described as a hostile force, with the correspondent noting that nature did not seem cruel to him, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent.

The men are in a constant battle with the sea, and the elements. They are tired, hungry, and cold, and the sea is described as an "enemy". The men are aware of their smallness in comparison to the vastness of the ocean, and the power of nature. They are aware that nature does not care about them, and that they are insignificant in the face of the universe.

The men are also aware that nature is unpredictable, and that their fate is uncertain. They do not know if they will survive, and this adds to the tension and struggle of the story. The correspondent notes that "a singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover that there is another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats".

Despite their struggle, the men are unable to defeat the waves and reach the shore. The correspondent notes that "the struggle of man against nature is the most apparent theme in the work". The men are forced to abandon their boat and swim for shore, and it is here that the oiler, the strongest of the four, drowns.

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—struggle to survive after their ship sinks, highlighting the indifference of nature to their fate.

The story explores the men's physical and emotional ordeal, reflecting on themes of isolation, camaraderie, and the harsh unpredictability of life. Despite their efforts to stay afloat and reach the shore, the men are at the mercy of the unforgiving sea, which is described as a hostile force set against them. The waves are depicted as "wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall," with each wave creating a new challenge for the men to navigate.

As the story progresses, the men come to realise that nature is not necessarily hostile but rather ambivalent and indifferent to their struggles. This realisation is captured in the correspondent's thoughts:

> "The serenity of nature amid the struggles of the individual—nature in the wind, and nature in the vision of men. She did not seem cruel to him, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent."

The correspondent's observation highlights the contrast between the men's desperate struggle for survival and the seemingly unconcerned natural world around them. The sea is described using feminine pronouns, personifying it as an intangible, yet effeminate threat.

The men's realisation of nature's indifference adds depth to their experience, as they grapple with their insignificance in the face of an uncaring universe. This theme of universal indifference is also explored in Crane's poetry, where he echoes the idea that nature is unconcerned with the struggles of individuals:

> "A man said to the universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the universe, 'The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.'"

In conclusion, 'The Open Boat' powerfully captures the indifference of nature through the men's harrowing journey, reflecting on the struggle between man and nature, and the realisation that nature remains unmoved by their fate.

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