’s “The Open Book”: Determinism, Objectivity, And Pessimism Essay, Research Paper
Stephen Crane’s “The Open Book”: Determinism, Objectivity, and Pessimism
In Stephen Crane’s short story ?The Open Boat?, the American literary
school of naturalism is used and three of the eight features are most apparent,
making this work, in my opinion, a good example of the school of naturalism.
These three of the eight features are determinism, objectivity, and pessimism.
They show, some more than others, how Stephen Crane viewed the world and the
environment around him.
Determinism is of course the most obvious of the three features.
Throughout the entire story, the reader gets a sense that the fate of the four
main characters, the cook, the oiler, the correspondent, and the captain are
totally pre-determined by nature and that they were not their own moral agents. ?
The little boat, lifted by each towering sea and splashed viciously by the
crests, made progress that in the absence of seaweed was not apparent to those
in her.? The characters had no control over their boat, rather nature was
totally in control. ?She seemed just a wee thing wallowing, miraculously top up,
at the mercy of the five oceans. Occasionally a great spread of water, like
white flames, swarmed into her.? (pg.145) There is also a sense that man is
totally not important to the natural forces controlling his fate. ?When it
occurs to 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.?(pg156) The one character who perishes, the oiler, is of course a
victim of determinism. Even as he was so close to land and no longer out in the
open sea, nature still takes its role in determining his fate.
Objectivity refers to how the author describes reality as it exists,
that is, not glorifying something, but rather simply stating the observation.
The fact that the narrator is the correspondent in itself give an impression on
how the story is going to be told in a more journalistic sense, describing
actual events instead of feelings or ideas. ? In the meantime the oiler and the
correspondent rowed. They sat together in the same seat, and each rowed an oar.
Then the oiler took both oars; then the correspondent took both oars; then the
oiler; then the correspondent. They rowed and they rowed.? (pg144) Writing
something repeatedly in the manner Crane does in this passage gives the reader a
sense of the repetitiveness and frustration the four main characters faced being
lost out at sea.
Pessimism, in my opinion, is apparent throughout the entire story.
Although the four men do have the will to survive, it always seems as if nature
is always playing the most important role. ? 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 passage is said not once, but twice in the short story,
strengthening the fact that a sense of pessimism is present throughout the story
while also expressing the anger the characters feel toward the ever present fate
of nature.
The entire story in itself is a portrayal not of the conflict between
man and nature, but rather the effect and control nature has on human fate,
strengthening the naturalistic ideas and views through this tale of four
stranded men. The fact that the waves, the tides, the freezing water and all the
other characteristics of the controlling force are ever present, make, in my
opinion, the sea the most important character in ?The Open Boat?, the four men
are just the way in which this is brought through to the reader.
Другие работы по теме:
Red Badge Of Courage
– Crane’s Realistic Treatment Of War Essay, Research Paper The notion that war is an exciting, romantic endeavor full of glory and heroism has existed for centuries and continues to some extent today. One hundred years ago, however, Stephen Crane set out to destroy these myths through his novel The Red Badge of Courage, which traces the experiences of a young soldier in the American Civil War.
Fighting Nature Essay Research Paper Fighting NatureIn
Fighting Nature Essay, Research Paper Fighting Nature In Stephen Crane’s The Open Boat, Crane uses a personal experience that happened to him to pattern this short story after. Crane’s writing style consists of a very prominent use of naturalism. Naturalism is simply the struggle between nature and man, with nature being the most powerful force.
Stephen Crane Essay Research Paper Paper based
Stephen Crane Essay, Research Paper Paper based on Stephen Crane’s works How do we grow up through the hardships of live? What can a stressful environment bring out in human? And how do you
Red Badge Of Courage Themes Stated Essay
, Research Paper Battles: Physical and Emotional Stephen Crane was one of the most superlative writers. In his short time he wrote several novels including: Maggie, The Blue Hotel, The Open Boat and The Red Badge of Courage. Crane was the first to notify the public that war wasn?t a good thing. Crane also was the first to depict the anti-war hero, (the one that war demonstrated that war wasn?t always a good thing). ?Crane dared depict the anti-hero, the one who failed to live up to the image society creates and the one that he would like to have himself. (Knapp 181).? The anti-hero was a new suggestion.
Contrast In Do Not Weep Maiden For
War Is Kind Essay, Research Paper Contrast in “Do Not Weep, Maiden, for War Is Kind” In the poem “Do Not Weep, Maiden, for War Is Kind” by Stephen Crane, contrast is used to make a statement about the war. The poem shows the different view points of the war, how different people involved in the war, took the war.
Marriage Of The End Essay Research Paper
The Marriage of the end “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” by Stephen Crane, was a story that showed the dying of the old west and the merging of the eastern way of thinking. In this story The sheriff gets married and comes home to a town that may or may not accept what he has done.
Bride Comes To Yellow Sky Essay Research
Paper As reading Stephen Crane’s, “The Bride comes to Yellow Sky”, which brings an understanding of western men through a short story of fighting and rough adventures. Crane’s imagery is vivid, but the words he writes seldom provided a final interpretation. Crane’s perceptions and expressions still seem as current as anything experienced to date.
Open Boat Essay Research Paper Stephen Crane
Open Boat Essay, Research Paper Stephen Crane was a great writer who wrote many great stories about naturalism. Naturalism is when characters in the story are controlled by the forces of nature. One of
The Red Badge Of Honor Essay Research
Paper Book Report The Red Badge of Courage By Stephen Crane The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane (1871-1900) is the story of a young man named Henry Flaming (The Youth). The book happens in a forest, where the troops move from place to place. The meaning of the tittle The Red Badge of Courage means a wound that the main character receives in battle.
RealismNaturalism Essay Research Paper RealismNaturalism
Realism-Naturalism Essay, Research Paper Realism-Naturalism Brian Robinson From the Yukon trail to the ocean realism and naturalism writers, like Stephen Crane and Jack London, explore the many trials of man and nature. Stephen Crane is famous for his story “The Open Boat”. The story involves a crew made up of 3 sailors and is about their struggle to find help during a storm at sea.
Stephen Crane Biography Essay Research Paper Stephen
Stephen Crane Biography Essay, Research Paper Stephen Crane Biography Stephen Crane was born in Newark, New Jersey on November 1, 1871. Stephen was the last of 14 children. His father a Methodist Minister died when he was nine. Stephen never cared much for school. He became well known as a social critic, journalist, and as a poet.
The Evaluation Of Stephen Crane
’s Success Essay, Research Paper Stephen Crane’s story, “The Open Boat,” presents four shipwrecked men trying to perpetuate their survival in their fight against the sea. Crane masters depicting pathos in such a way that the story does not overfill the reader with sentimentality. Heroism also shines through the characters, something which gives a greater understanding of their situation.
Mr Essay Research Paper For Crane he
Mr Essay, Research Paper For Crane, he uses Maggie: A Girl of the Streets to tell a story of a girl, born into a life of misery, who has no way of escaping it. Thus, the story strikes an emotional chord in the readers? hearts and the audience empathizes with Maggie?s conditions. Crane believes in the concept of “lifting the veil” and envisions a society that can look past physical differences.
Red Badge Of Courage By Stephen Crane
Essay, Research Paper Red Badge of Courage When I first started reading this book I thought why does every one rave about how well it is written so I totally dove into reading it and found many forms of symbolism. The Symbolism in a Soldier The story The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, was written to reflect the harsh Civil War realities.
Stephen Crane Essay Research Paper Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane Essay, Research Paper Stephen Crane was the youngest of fourteen children. His father was a strict Methodist minister, who died in 1880, leaving his devout, strong mother to raise
Life Of Stephen Crane Essay Research Paper
Page1 The life of Stephen Crane was very confusing. In this paper I am going to discuss the novels he wrote, his life growing up, and how his novels became popular. Stephen Crane grew up in Newark, New Jersey on November 1, 1871. Stephen Crane was the fourteenth child of Jonathan Townley Crane and Mary Helen Crane.
The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky Essay
, Research Paper Crane’s Use of Ironic Symbolism in “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” Stephen Crane’s “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky,” as well as his other Western stories, owe much to Mark Twain’s approach to the West. According to Eric Solomon, “both authors?used humor to comment on the flaws of traditional fictional processes” (237).
Harry Crosby And Hart Crane Essay Research
Paper Sy Kahn On Crosby and Crane Crosby’s own books of poetry and his diaries, Shadows of the Sun, testify that he apprehended and rendered reality in much the same way as
Typical Westerns Essay Research Paper justyn dallmannTypical
Typical Westerns Essay, Research Paper justyn dallmann Typical Westerns I think that Stephen Crane used alto of ideas from typical writings. I say this because some of the things were not typical but many of them were. This made the story unique because it wasn’t the same as most other westerns but in some ways it was the same.
Death In Stephen Cranes The Blue Hotel
? Essay, Research Paper Stephen Crane is a well-known author of variety of short stories. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of a Methodist minister. After schooling at Lafayette College and Syracuse University, he worked in New York as a freelance journalist. His short stories and experimental poetry, also, anticipate the ironic realism of the decades ahead.
Blue Hotel Essay Research Paper It is
Blue Hotel Essay, Research Paper It is not surprising for an author?s background and surroundings to profoundly affect his writing. Having come from a Methodist lineage and living at a time when the church was still an influential facet in people?s daily lives, Stephen Crane was deeply instilled with religious dogmas.
The Blue Hotel Essay Research Paper
“The Blue Hotel” The Story “The Blue Hotel” by Stephen Crane was one that inspires a lot of thought. This thought is about settings, characters, and ideas. The characters he creates are very different from each other, as shown in comparisons to each other. The use of symbolism in the story lets us imagine why the hotel is painted blue and we can wonder about the character of the Swede for long periods of time.
Open Boat Essay Research Paper Symbolism allows
Open Boat Essay, Research Paper Symbolism allows writers to suggest their ideas within a piece of literature. This is found in most types of writing. Stephen Crane expresses this in his short story, The Open Boat. Through symbolism and allegory, it is demonstrated that humans live in a universe that is unconcerned with them.
Tyhe Open Boat Essay Research Paper The
Tyhe Open Boat Essay, Research Paper The Open Boat By Stephen Crane ?The Open Boat? is a story of four men who drift across a January sea in an open boat, since they lost their ship some time after dawn. The main conflict in this story is man versus nature, in this case the raging sea. Stephen Crane gives a description of two days spent on a ten-foot dinghy by four men a cook,
The Red Badge Of Courage By Stephen
Crane Essay, Research Paper The red badge – The red badge, a blood stain, was a symbol of courage for other soldiers, however, for Henry, it becomes a sign of cowardice since he received his from a fight with
Red Badge Of Courage Essay Essay Research
Paper Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane’s literary technique has long been a matter of great interest, analysis, and speculation. In The Red Badge of Courage Crane takes us into the life of a young man named Henry Fleming, who wants to enlist in the United States Army and fight in the war against the South. By using irony, similes, and symbols, to name a few, Crane ”paints” a vivid picture of what life was like for the fragile Henry Fleming.
Sin And Virtue
– What Role Does Religion Play In L Essay, Research Paper Sin & Virtue:What Role Does RELIGION Play In Life? Stephen Crane s The Blue Hotel It is not surprising for an author s background and surroundings toprofoundly affect his writing. Having come from a Methodist lineage andliving at a time when the church was still an influential facet in people sdaily lives, Stephen Crane was deeply instilled with religious dogmas.However, fear of retribution soon turned to cynicism and criticism of hisidealistic parents God, “the wrathful Jehovah of the Old Testament”,as he was confronted with the harsh realities of war as ajournalistic correspondent.
Stephen Crane 2 Essay Research Paper Stephen
Stephen Crane 2 Essay, Research Paper Stephen Crane was one of the United States foremost naturalists in the late 1800 s ( Stephen n.p.). He depicted the human mind in a way that few others have been capable of doing while examining his own beliefs. Crane was so dedicated to his beliefs that one should write about only what they personally experience that he lived in a self-imposed poverty for part of his life to spur on his writings (Colvert, 12:108).
Religion And The Blue Hotel Essay Research
Paper Sin & Virtue: What Role Does Religion Play In Stephen Crane?s The Blue Hotel? It is not surprising for an author?s background and surroundings to profoundly affect his or her writing. Stephen Crane came from a Methodist lineage and lived at a time when the church was still an influential facet in many people?s daily lives.
Early American Lit Essay Research Paper American
Early American Lit Essay, Research Paper American Literature consisted of many well known writers. These writers wrote excellent pieces of literature which are widely read today. These writers wrote about some aspect of American life, and they depicted America very well. Some of these writers are Stephen Crane and Robert E.
Maggie A Girl Of The Streets Essay
, Research Paper INNOCENCE VS. EXPERIENCE It is believed that the world exists in two fashions, innocence and experience. Neither can exist without its opposite. Innocence is where humans begin, and they must pass through experience on their way to heaven. One figure from turn-of-the-century literature are prime examples of innocence lost which characterize this idea.
Language Of Poetry Amy Lowell And Stephen
Crane Essay, Research Paper ril Brooks Page 1 3/29/01 1. Poetry allows in a musical language of an economy of words to express ones emotions. Through writing people express their hidden ideas and feelings about life. A poem can be musical by the rhythm and the sound, these aspects seem to give the writing a tempo.
The Blue Hotel Essay Research Paper Leah
The Blue Hotel Essay, Research Paper Leah Miller Comparison Essay English J In the Blue Hotel, by Stephen Crane, four characters play four games of High Five. The game is played with partners. There are both similarities and differences in the
The Open Boat Essay Research Paper The
The Open Boat Essay, Research Paper The Open Boat by Stephen Crane ?The Open Boat? Four men drift across a January sea in an open boat, since they lost their ship some time after dawn. Now, in the clear light of day, the men begin to grasp the full gravity of their situation. Realizing that their main conflict will be man versus nature, in this case, the raging sea.