The Open Boat: Narrator's Perspective And Storytelling

The Open Boat is a short story by American author Stephen Crane, first published in 1898. The story is narrated from the point of view of an anonymous correspondent, with Crane as the implied author. The correspondent is a journalist who survives a shipwreck and is forced to battle the open seas on a lifeboat with three other men: the captain, the oiler, and the cook. While the narration is in the third person, the narrator's insight into the correspondent's mind is much deeper than that of the other characters, suggesting that the narrator and the correspondent may be one and the same. This blurring of lines between the narrator and the correspondent is part of what makes the story so gripping and immersive for the reader.

The Correspondent as the narrator

The short story "The Open Boat" is narrated from the point of view of an anonymous correspondent, with the author, Stephen Crane, as the implied author. The correspondent is a journalist and the central character of the story, presumably young and able-bodied, given that he shares rowing duties with the oiler. The correspondent is described as cynical and sceptical of men, but his heart is warmed by the brotherhood he forms with the crew in the boat. Throughout the story, the correspondent is consumed by existentialist thoughts and is fixated on fate and nature's indifference to humans.

The story is told in the third person, and the only mind the narrator truly has insight into is that of the correspondent. This limited omniscient narration blurs the lines between the narrator and the correspondent, leaving the reader with a sense of ambiguity. It is suggested that the narrator and the correspondent may be one and the same, as the narrator describes the correspondent's inner thoughts and feelings more closely than any of the other characters. Additionally, the correspondent's occupation and experience as a shipwreck survivor echo the author's own life story.

The correspondent is responsible for taking turns rowing with the oiler, and he feels deeply connected to his companions. He is frequently consumed by thoughts of fate and nature's indifference, wondering why he is allowed to come so far if he is going to drown. He ponders a poem about a dying soldier in Algiers, feeling a human connection to the anonymous figure. As the correspondent rows alone, he thinks of himself as "the one man afloat on all the ocean," despite sharing a boat with three other men.

The correspondent's experience at sea leaves him with a sense of understanding the voice of the sea, which, in its indifference, makes the distinction between right and wrong "absurdly clear." He hears the great sea's voice and feels that he can interpret it, along with the other survivors. The correspondent's journey and reflections on fate, nature, and human solidarity are central to the narrative, making him the most likely candidate for the narrator of "The Open Boat."

Third-person limited narration

"The Open Boat" is a short story by American author Stephen Crane, first published in 1898. The story is narrated in the third person, with Crane as the implied author. The narrator is not one of the characters and knows almost everything. However, the only mind the narrator truly has insight into is that of the correspondent, a journalist who is one of the four main characters. The correspondent's inner thoughts and feelings are described in more detail than those of the other characters, and the narrator occasionally assumes that all four men are having the exact same thoughts at the same time. This blurring of lines between the correspondent and the narrator makes the story gripping, as readers feel they are right there in the boat with the characters.

The story is based on Crane's experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1897. Crane was stranded at sea for thirty hours when his ship, the SS Commodore, sank after hitting a sandbar. He and three other men were forced to navigate their way to shore in a small boat; one of them, an oiler named Billie Higgins, drowned after the boat overturned.

In the story, the correspondent is one of four survivors of a shipwreck who are drifting at sea in a small dinghy. The other three characters are the injured captain, the cook, and the oiler, Billie. The moods of the men fluctuate from anger at their desperate situation to a growing empathy for one another. They also realise that nature is indifferent to their fates. The correspondent, in particular, is consumed by existentialist thoughts and is fixated on fate and nature's indifference to humans. He is pleasantly surprised to find his heart warmed by the brotherhood he forms with the other men in the boat, counteracting his usual cynicism towards other men.

The story is an example of Naturalism due to its objective and often unsentimental style. It explores themes such as the conflict between man and nature, survival, solidarity, powerlessness, community, cooperation, and alienation. It is praised for its innovation, use of imagery, irony, symbolism, and exploration of themes.

The Correspondent's existential thoughts

The Correspondent, a journalist, is the central character of "The Open Boat". The story is based on author Stephen Crane's experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida. Crane was stranded at sea for thirty hours when his ship, the SS Commodore, sank after hitting a sandbar. He and three other men were forced to navigate their way to shore in a small boat; one of them, an oiler named Billie Higgins, drowned after the boat overturned.

The Correspondent is unnamed, but he is presumably young and able-bodied, given that he shares rowing duties with the oiler. He is cynical of men by nature, but he is pleasantly surprised to find his heart warmed by the brotherhood he and the crew form in the boat. The Correspondent is also the character whose inner thoughts and feelings are described most closely. Throughout the story, he is frequently consumed by existentialist thoughts and is fixated on fate and nature's indifference to humans.

The Correspondent ponders the injustice of drowning after having worked so hard. He feels that nature is indifferent, neither evil nor intelligent, and he is frustrated by the lack of a higher power to blame 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 Correspondent also reflects on the innumerable flaws of his life and wishes for another chance to mend his conduct and his words. He feels that a distinction between right and wrong seems absurdly clear to him.

As the Correspondent rows alone, he thinks about how he is "the one man afloat on all the ocean", even though he is sharing a boat with three other men. He feels a sense of isolation and existential dread as he confronts the cruelty of fate and the possibility of drowning at sea. He questions why fate has allowed him to survive this long, only to potentially drown now. He ponders a poem about a dying French soldier in Algiers, feeling a connection to the soldier's solitary fate.

> "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 desire to survive is evident in his 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 Correspondent's thoughts throughout the story reflect his struggle to come to terms with his own mortality and the indifference of nature. He grapples with feelings of isolation and questions the meaning of existence as he fights for survival.

The Correspondent's profession as a journalist

The Correspondent in "The Open Boat" is a journalist by profession. The character is presumed to be young and able-bodied, as he shares rowing duties with the oiler, one of the other three men on the lifeboat. The Correspondent's profession inclines him to be cynical of men, but he is pleasantly surprised to find his heart warmed by the brotherhood he and the crew form during their shared ordeal. The Correspondent is also prone to existentialist thoughts and is fixated on fate and nature's indifference to humans.

The story "The Open Boat" is based on the author Stephen Crane's real-life experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1897. Crane was a war correspondent travelling to Cuba to cover the brewing war between Cuba and its coloniser, Spain. Crane's ship, the SS Commodore, sank, and he and three other men endured 30 hours in a tiny lifeboat before attempting to reach the shore. One of the men, an oiler named Billie Higgins, drowned when the boat overturned.

Crane's personal account of the shipwreck, titled "Stephen Crane's Own Story", was published a few days after his rescue. He subsequently adapted this report into a short story, "The Open Boat", which was published in Scribner's Magazine in 1898. The story is told from the point of view of an anonymous correspondent, with Crane as the implied author. The action closely resembles the author's experiences after the shipwreck, and the Correspondent character is presumed to be based on Crane himself.

In the story, the Correspondent is one of four men—the others being the captain, the oiler, and the cook—who are adrift in a small dinghy after their ship sinks. The Correspondent takes turns rowing with the oiler while the cook bails water to keep the boat afloat. The men's moods fluctuate from anger at their desperate situation to a growing empathy for one another. They also realise that nature is indifferent to their fate.

The Correspondent's occupation as a journalist, coupled with his experience as a shipwreck survivor, mirrors Crane's own life story, suggesting that the character may be Crane's fictional alter ego. Like the author, the Correspondent ultimately survives his ordeal at sea and is rescued. This experience leaves him feeling that he can now interpret the voice of the sea, which, in its indifference towards human life, makes "absurdly clear" the difference between right and wrong.

The Correspondent's struggle for survival

The correspondent in "The Open Boat" is a journalist who, alongside three other men—the captain, the oiler, and the cook—survives a shipwreck and is forced to battle the open seas in a small lifeboat. The correspondent's profession and experience as a shipwreck survivor echo the author Stephen Crane's own life, suggesting that the correspondent may be Crane's self-insert.

The correspondent is responsible for taking turns rowing with the oiler while the captain gives orders and the cook bails out the boat. Despite his initial skepticism towards other men, the correspondent feels deeply connected to his companions, describing the "subtle brotherhood" that develops between them as they unite in their struggle for survival.

Throughout the story, the correspondent grapples with existentialist thoughts, fixating on fate and nature's indifference to humans. He challenges the sea, which he associates with nature and fate, revealing his desire to make sense of surviving the shipwreck only to face the possibility of drowning in the lifeboat. The correspondent's inner thoughts and feelings are described more closely than those of the other characters, and the narrator's insight into his mind suggests that they may be one and the same.

The correspondent's experience in the lifeboat is interpreted as the best experience of his life because he has entered into a deep human fellowship and has grasped important truths about life and death. The unity among the men helps the correspondent understand that they are all feeling the same way, but they do not speak of their feelings to maintain their focus and unity in their mission to reach shore safely.

As the correspondent faces death and contemplates the flaws in his life, he gains a sense of the true meaning of life and a clearer distinction between right and wrong. He recognizes that, given another chance, he would improve his conduct and words, becoming a better person. The correspondent's struggle for survival in "The Open Boat" is a testament to his resilience and his ability to find camaraderie and purpose in the face of adversity.

Frequently asked questions