The Open Boat: Unnamed Crew, One Named Survivor

Stephen Crane's short story 'The Open Boat' is based on his own experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida. The story has four central characters: the captain, the oiler, the cook, and the correspondent. Only one of these characters, the oiler, is referred to by name (Billie or Billy). This fact has been remarked upon by critics, especially as the oiler is the only character who does not survive the story.

The oiler, Billie Higgins, is the only character to die

In Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat," the oiler, Billie (or Billy) Higgins, is the only character to die. The story is based on Crane's real-life experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida, where he and three other men were forced to navigate their way to shore in a small boat. In the story, the four men—the correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler—are adrift in a dinghy after their ship sinks.

The oiler, Billie Higgins, is the only character in the story referred to by name, mentioned nine times throughout the narrative. This could be to emphasise his humanity and make him more relatable to the reader. Additionally, naming the character after the real-life Billy Higgins who drowned may be Crane's way of memorialising him. Billie is portrayed as a hard-working, determined, and generous character. Despite being exhausted from working a double shift before the ship sank, he continues to row and steer the dinghy, taking pleasure in having some control over their direction. He is also the only character in the story to directly reprimand someone, scolding the cook for talking about food and expressing annoyance when others don't pull their weight with the rowing.

However, despite his strength and determination, Billie ultimately perishes within sight of land and rescue. After the dinghy overturns in the strong waves and undertow, the captain advises everyone to jump clear of the boat. Unfortunately, Billie doesn't manage to escape in time and drowns. His death serves as a tragic reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the sea.

While the other three men reach the shore and are met by rescuers, they find Billie's body washed up on the beach. His death adds a layer of complexity to the story, highlighting the randomness of survival in the face of natural disasters. Despite being the strongest and most physically capable, Billie is the only one who doesn't make it through the ordeal. This outcome can be seen as a critique of Darwinism, as the fittest character does not survive.

Crane's own experience as a war correspondent

Stephen Crane's own experience as a war correspondent greatly influenced the plot of "The Open Boat". In 1896, Crane accepted an offer to travel to Cuba as a war correspondent. While waiting in Jacksonville, Florida, for passage, he met Cora Taylor, with whom he began a lasting relationship. En route to Cuba, Crane's vessel, the SS Commodore, sank off the coast of Florida, leaving him adrift for 30 hours in a dinghy. Crane and three other men (including the captain) foundered off the coast of Florida for a day and a half before trying to land the dinghy. The small boat overturned in the surf, forcing the exhausted men to swim to shore; one died. Crane's experience of shipwreck greatly influenced the plot of "The Open Boat", with the exception that, in his story, the correspondent survives.

Crane's time as a war correspondent also influenced the character of the correspondent in "The Open Boat". The correspondent is the only character whose thoughts are directly shared with the reader. As the story unfolds, the absurdity of the situation deeply affects him. He realizes that despite all his efforts, he might still drown, leading him to ponder the disheartening idea that nature is indifferent to his fate. This introspection is a reflection of Crane's own experience as a war correspondent.

Crane's work as a war correspondent also influenced the themes of "The Open Boat". Crane's writing is characterized by common themes involving fear, spiritual crises, and social isolation. All of these themes are present in "The Open Boat". The correspondent in the story is forced to confront his own mortality and the indifference of nature. He is also socially isolated from the other characters, as he is the only one whose thoughts are shared with the reader.

The captain's leadership

In Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat", the captain is the injured leader of the shipwrecked crew, who must guide his men to safety despite his own grief and pessimism. The captain's leadership style is calm, quiet, and authoritative. He gives directions and leads the crew to shore, always remaining alert and cool-headed, even when he might appear to be sleeping.

The captain's role is demanding as he must chart a course, make safety decisions, and determine how best to utilise the men's efforts. Despite his injury, he contributes to the common good by providing navigational guidance and other directives. He ensures the water bottle is safeguarded and does not partake in the rowing, instead bearing the full responsibility of getting everyone to safety.

The cook's naivety

The cook is described as overweight and sloppily dressed. He is not fit enough to help with the rowing, but he makes himself useful by bailing water out of the boat. He is the most talkative of the four men and remains unwaveringly confident that they will be rescued.

The cook's character also serves to highlight the randomness of the natural disaster that has befallen the four men. Despite being unfit, the cook is one of the three survivors, while the oiler, a strong and skilled seaman, drowns in the surf just off the shore. This outcome underscores the unpredictable nature of their predicament and the role of chance in their survival.

The correspondent's introspection

The correspondent is the only character in "The Open Boat" whose thoughts are directly shared with the reader. The correspondent is autobiographical in nature, based on Stephen Crane himself, who was shipwrecked off the coast of Florida while working as a war correspondent.

As the story progresses, the absurdity of the situation impresses itself on the correspondent's mind. He is the most analytical of the four men, reflecting on the broader perspective of their situation. He is also the most introspective, pondering the disheartening idea that nature is indifferent to his fate. The correspondent is the only character to have his inner thoughts clearly identified, perhaps because, as a writer, he has the ability to articulate their experience best.

The correspondent is presumably young and able-bodied, given that he shares rowing duties with the oiler. He is also cynical of men, but is pleasantly surprised to find his heart warmed by the brotherhood that he and the crew form in the boat. Several times, the correspondent curses nature and the gods who rule the sea, and he wonders whether he is meant to drown.

The correspondent is troubled by the senselessness of his predicament and thinks about a poem in which a French soldier dies, unceremoniously, far from his homeland. He recognises that he faces a similarly senseless death and finds the true meaning of courage and heroism in the simple will to survive.

The correspondent's desire to survive is evident in his refrain of the lyrical line: "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?"

Frequently asked questions