Stephen Crane quot;the Open Boatquot; Essay - 504 Words

In Stephen Cranes The Open Boat, the four men underwent an experience in which they endured the forces of the sea that caused them to change their perception of nature and ultimately brought them to see the conflict between humanity and the natural world. In the beginning, faced with the restless sea, the four men felt that outside help existed somewhere. The cook was the most certain that they would be rescued. In his argument with the correspondent, the cook told him, There is a house of refuge...and as soon as they see us theyll come off in their boat and pick us up (NA, 358). Soon after they saw the lighthouse, the four men were optimistic that their destiny was not to die, and that somehow another power, in the form of†¦show more content†¦With their hope of being rescued gone, their first thought was probably that they were meant to drown, and that the water was the instrument that would be used by Fate to bring them to their destiny. Of the four men, the captain was the only person who could not help row the boat because of his injury. In the beginning, he was described as being temporarily consumed by profound dejection and indifference (NA, 357) while directing his shipmates with a voice that was deep with mourning...of a quality beyond oration or tears (NA, 357). Like a general of a losing army, the captain felt as if the sea had been something that had defeated him. As a true leader, he nevertheless continued to encourage and guide his men in the same steady voice (NA, 367) and maintained a sense of order and peace on the boat. The captain knew and respected the seas power, but he also saw the waters as a mission through which he was responsible for guiding his men, and that he had to persevere even if others gave up. Their attitude towards the sea again changed when they became overwhelmed by physical pain and fatigue. When the correspondent saw a shark during the night, it did not terrify him, but it did send into him a degree of fear. As they became more exhausted, their fear of death, and therefore the sea, diminished. As the men were swimming to shore, the correspondent saw that none of them were afraid, and he understood himself howShow MoreRelated Open Boat Essay1127 Words   |  5 Pages Throughout my reading I have found that Crane uses many symbolic objects to depict true-life events. He uses symbols such as towers, animals, and waves. Crane leaves so much to the reader’s imagination that the story can be considered magical and mysterious. The composition leaves many details up to the readers inference, however after further research a full picture to the events that transpired that cold January are uncovered. â€Å"The Open Boat,† is very rich in symbolism. Symbolism evokes or describes