The Oiler's Role In The Open Boat

Stephen Crane's short story 'The Open Boat' is based on his own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida in 1896. Crane and three other men were stranded at sea for thirty hours, during which time they had to navigate their way to shore in a small boat. The story centres on the four survivors: a correspondent, a captain, a cook, and an oiler named Billie Higgins. The oiler, the strongest of the four, sadly perishes in the attempt to reach land, despite being an experienced seaman.

The oiler's role in rowing the boat

Rowing a boat is hard work, and rowing a boat in rough seas is even harder. In Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat", the oiler, Billie, plays a crucial role in keeping the boat afloat and moving toward shore.

The oiler is one of four survivors of a shipwreck, along with the correspondent (who narrates the story), the captain, and the cook. The oiler is described as physically strong and obedient to the captain's commands. He takes on the difficult task of rowing, sharing the duty with the correspondent.

Despite having worked a double shift before the ship sank, Billie rows with steady, simple labor. He and the correspondent take turns rowing while the others rest or bail water to keep the boat from sinking. The oiler's strength and skill are evident in his ability to navigate the treacherous waves and keep the boat on course.

As the men grow more exhausted, the oiler's role becomes even more critical. He is the one who first notices the danger of the surf and suggests taking the boat back out to sea. Later, when they attempt to swim to shore, Billie, as the strongest swimmer, leads the way. Unfortunately, he is the only one of the four who does not make it to safety and drowns before reaching the beach.

The oiler's physical strength, endurance, and obedience make him an invaluable member of the crew. Without his efforts, the correspondent acknowledges that they may not have made it as far as they did. The oiler's tragic death serves as a reminder of the dangers they faced and the fragility of their situation.

The oiler's physical strength

The oiler, Billie, is physically the strongest of the four men stranded in the dinghy. He is described as a "simple, working seaman", and his physical strength is emphasised by the fact that he had worked a double watch in the engine room of the ship before it sank.

Despite his physical strength, Billie is the only one of the four men to perish. He swims ahead of the others when they abandon the boat and attempt to swim to shore, but his body is later found washed up on the beach.

The oiler's obedience to the captain

The oiler, Billie, is obedient to the captain throughout the story. He is described as "generous and polite" to the correspondent, and always follows the captain's orders. When the captain says, "Keep'er a little more south, Billie," the oiler replies, "'A little more south, sir." When the captain says, "Yes! If this wind holds!" the oiler affirms, "Yes! If we don't catch hell in the surf."

The oiler is the strongest of the four men and takes on the most physically demanding tasks. He is the only one besides the correspondent who rows, and he does so tirelessly, despite having worked a double shift before the shipwreck. When the correspondent asks the oiler if he ever liked to row, the oiler replies, "No," and the correspondent notes that the oiler's "weary face" shows his dislike for the task. Despite this, the oiler continues to row obediently whenever the captain or correspondent asks him to.

The oiler's obedience is not only to the captain but also to the correspondent, who is the central character of the story. When the correspondent asks to switch places with the oiler, the latter readily agrees, saying, "Sure." This shows that the oiler respects the correspondent and is willing to help him when needed.

The oiler's obedience and strength are what ultimately lead to his death. As the strongest swimmer, he swims ahead of the others when they abandon the dinghy and try to reach the shore. Unfortunately, he drowns and his body is washed up on the beach. The other three men survive. This tragic ending highlights the dangers of the situation and the bravery and selflessness of the oiler, who obeyed the captain and put the lives of his companions before his own.

The oiler's realism and focus

The oiler in Stephen Crane's short story, "The Open Boat", is based on a real-life figure named Billie Higgins. Higgins was the only member of the crew to perish during the shipwreck that inspired Crane's story.

The oiler is introduced in the first part of the story, along with the other three characters: the correspondent, the captain, and the cook. The oiler is described as physically the strongest of the group, having worked a double shift before the ship sank, and is the only character referred to by name.

The oiler's strength and experience as a seaman are highlighted when he successfully steers the boat through treacherous waves and surf. He is described as a "wily surfman", skillfully navigating the boat back out to sea when it is in danger of capsizing. The oiler's leadership and quick thinking are also demonstrated when he suggests taking turns rowing to conserve their energy.

The oiler's realism is further shown in his ability to remain focused on the present moment and the immediate task at hand. While the other men sometimes bicker or daydream, the oiler is steadfast in his commitment to their survival. He is described as "generous and polite" to the correspondent, taking turns with him at rowing despite his own exhaustion.

Despite the oiler's strength and realism, he is the only one of the four men to perish in the end. This serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the sea, and the ultimate powerlessness of humans in the face of such forces.

In conclusion, the oiler in "The Open Boat" is a realistic and focused character who embodies strength, experience, and a commitment to the survival of himself and his crewmates. His tragic death highlights the indifferent nature of the sea and the unpredictable outcomes of even the most focused and realistic individuals when faced with the forces of nature.

The oiler's death

The oiler, Billie Higgins, was the only member of the crew to die in the final attempt to reach land. He was the strongest of the four men, and had worked a double shift in the engine room before the ship sank. Despite his physical strength, he was likely the most exhausted.

The men had been stranded at sea for thirty hours when they decided to abandon the dinghy and swim to shore. Billie, being the strongest swimmer, swam ahead of the others. The captain advanced towards the shore while holding onto the boat, and the cook used a surviving oar. The correspondent was trapped by a local current but eventually managed to swim on.

After the three men reached the shore, they found Billie's body washed up on the beach.

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