Open_Boat,_Naturalism

“The Open Boat”, written in 1898 by Stephen Crane does not fit neatly into one category of style. It is about four men who are stranded on a small boat, they are simply introduced to the reader as the captain, the oiler, the correspondent, and the cook. Some say it is an example of Realism while others believe it to be Naturalism. Although there is wide debate, “The Open Boat” is an example of Naturalism because of its use of story conventions, themes, and characters. A typical naturalism story uses story conventions to show the nature of man. Humans are often depicted as powerless and insignificant to the forces of nature. The boat the men were in was very small, in fact, “Many a man ought to have a bath-tub larger than the boat which here rode upon the sea. These waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem in small boat navigation”(1). The ocean waves are unyielding and indifferent but the men are determined to reach shore. Man verse himself is theme in naturalism stories. Through out the journey all of the men have an internal battle wondering, “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…not after all this work”(5-6). They must fight themselves to keep their spirits up despite a looming fate. The characters in “The Open Boat” are far from ordinary. There is neither a hero nor a villain, just the average cook, captain, correspondent and oiler. As the story progresses and they spend more time upon the boat, the men struggle with futility. With nights of endless rowing but yet no sight of shore the men fall into However the men unite in a unique bond; together the seek meaning for their tragedy in a meaningless world.