The Open Boat: Existential Crisis At Sea

In Stephen Crane's short story, 'The Open Boat', four men are stranded in a lifeboat, battling the sea. Crane's own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida forms the basis of the story. The narrator, a correspondent, recounts the men's fluctuating moods, from anger at their desperate situation to a growing empathy for one another. The men's struggle for survival and solidarity in the face of nature's indifference is a central theme in the story, as they question their existence and why they are there.

The indifference of nature

The short story "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane is based on the author's real-life experience of being stranded at sea for thirty hours when the ship he was travelling on, the SS Commodore, sank off the coast of Florida. Crane was a correspondent for an American newspaper and was on his way to Cuba to report on the local uprising against Spain.

The story centres on four men in a lifeboat: a cook, a correspondent, an oiler named Billie, and a captain. They are adrift in stormy seas, and the waves are so big that it is too dangerous to try to take the boat to land. The men in the boat hope that the people on land will send a bigger boat to rescue them, but this does not happen. Instead, they are forced to take the boat further out to sea, where the waves are not as big and dangerous.

> "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 perception of nature as indifferent is further emphasised by his regular use of feminine pronouns to refer to the sea, pitting the four men against an intangible, yet effeminate, threat. This theme of indifference is also explored in one of Crane's poems, which echoes the correspondent's thoughts:

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

The men in the boat are forced to confront the realisation that nature does not regard them as important, and that their struggles mean nothing to the universe. This indifference is highlighted by the juxtaposition of the men's desperate situation with the calm and indifferent sea. Despite their efforts to survive, nature remains unmoved, underscoring the insignificance of human struggles in the face of the vast and uncaring natural world.

The struggle for survival

In the story, four men—a cook, a correspondent, an oiler, and a captain—are in a lifeboat in stormy seas, having just survived a shipwreck. They spot the light of a lighthouse and know they are near land, but the waves are too big and dangerous to attempt to take the boat ashore. They hope that people on the shore will send a bigger boat to rescue them, but this does not happen. Instead, they are forced to take the boat further out to sea, where the waves are less dangerous, and they spend two nights in the lifeboat, taking turns rowing and resting.

The men are unsure if they will survive and exchange addresses in case any of them die. On the morning of the third day, they are weak, and no fishing boat has come to their rescue. The captain decides they must attempt to swim ashore, knowing that the waves will overturn the boat and they will have to swim in the cold sea. As they get closer to land, the waves get bigger and more violent, and eventually, a large wave overturns their boat and throws the men into the sea.

The men swim towards the shore, but the correspondent becomes trapped in a current that carries him back out to sea. However, the current changes, and he is able to swim towards the shore again. The captain calls to him to swim to the boat and hold on. As the correspondent swims towards the boat, a large wave hits him and throws him into the air over the boat, but he is not hurt. He finds that the water is only halfway up his body, but he is too tired to stand, and the current keeps pulling him back out to sea.

Another man, who has already rescued the cook, swims out to the correspondent and pulls him to shore. The rescuer then points to the water and cries out, and the correspondent sees that Billie, the oiler, has drowned. His body has washed up on the shore.

The story's depiction of the men's struggle for survival highlights the power of the sea and how easily it can claim a life, even that of the strongest swimmer. It also explores the themes of solidarity and the conflict between man and nature, as the men find comfort in their camaraderie and question their place in the universe in the face of indifferent nature.

The power of the sea

The story begins with the men adrift in stormy seas, having just lost their ship. The waves are described as "wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall", with white, foaming tops. The men are unable to do much but watch the waves and wonder if they will survive. The sea is personified as a powerful, unpredictable force: "There was a terrible grace in the move of the waves, and they came in silence, save for the snarling of the crests".

The men spot a lighthouse and know they are near land, but the waves are too big and dangerous to attempt a landing. They are forced to take the boat further out to sea, where they spend two nights, taking turns rowing and resting. The sea is relentless, and the men are exhausted, cold, and wet. They are unsure if they will survive and exchange addresses in case any of them should die.

The following morning, the men are weak, and no fishing boat has come to their rescue. They decide to risk taking the lifeboat closer to shore, knowing that the waves will likely overturn the boat and they will have to swim. As they approach the shore, the waves grow bigger and more violent, until finally, a large wave overturns the boat and throws the men into the sea.

The story ends with the three survivors on shore, listening to the pounding of the waves in the darkness. They now understand the power of the sea and how easily it can take a life. The sea is depicted as an indifferent force, neither cruel nor kind, but capable of destroying human life without remorse.

The question of fate

"The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane is a short story based on the author's real-life experience of being stranded at sea for thirty hours after his ship, the SS Commodore, sank off the coast of Florida in 1896. The story revolves around four men—a cook, a correspondent, an oiler named Billie, and a captain—who find themselves in a lifeboat, battling the tumultuous sea. As they grapple with their uncertain fate, the question of fate and the role of destiny becomes a central theme in the narrative.

Throughout their ordeal, the men contemplate their existence and question why they are there, facing an indifferent and unforgiving nature. The correspondent, in particular, undergoes an existential crisis, reflecting on his mortality and the seeming insignificance of his life in the grand scheme of things. He wonders, "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?" This refrain highlights the absurdity and injustice of their situation, as they are tantalized by the proximity of land while simultaneously facing the stark reality of their own mortality.

The theme of fate is further explored through the characters' changing perceptions of nature. Initially, the men view the sea as a hostile force, a formidable adversary set against them. However, as the story progresses, their perspective shifts, and they come to see nature as indifferent, neither cruel nor benevolent. The correspondent muses, "She did not seem cruel to him, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent." This realization underscores the sense of isolation and abandonment the men feel, stripped of any illusion of control or divine intervention.

In "The Open Boat," Crane presents a complex exploration of fate and destiny through the lens of these four men adrift at sea. The story invites readers to contemplate the role of chance, the nature of human existence, and the forces that shape our lives in the face of an indifferent universe.

The solidarity of the men

In Stephen Crane's short story, 'The Open Boat', four men are stranded in a lifeboat after their ship sinks. The story is based on Crane's own real-life experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida.

The four men—a cook, a correspondent, an oiler and a captain—form a strong bond as they face the challenges of their situation. Despite their different backgrounds and professions, they are united by their shared struggle for survival.

The story highlights the subtle brotherhood that develops between the men as they confront the indifferent and unforgiving sea. They rely on each other for strength and support, taking turns rowing and bailing water to keep the boat afloat. Despite their exhaustion and the danger they face, they find comfort and warmth in their camaraderie.

The men's bond is so strong that even in the face of death, they are determined to stick together. When the oiler, Billie, the strongest of the four, drowns, the others are devastated. They realise that even the strongest among them is not immune to the sea's power.

The experience in the open boat forges an unbreakable bond between the men. Their shared ordeal creates a unique and powerful connection, highlighting the importance of human solidarity in the face of adversity.

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