By: Stephen Crane
Came from a family of writers Dropped out of college to “study humanity” He worked as a freelance journalist in New York City, then as a reporter traveling to Mexico and the Western United States He then became a war correspondent in Cuba. On New Year’s Eve in 1896, Crane was traveling on a ship called The Commodore to Cuba to report on the Cuban revolution that was about to take place Stephen Crane
The Commodore ends up capsizing and sinking right outside Jacksonville, FL Crane and three of his men escape on a small life boat (dinghy) and this experience was his inspiration for this story Inspiration for the story
The Cook – Spends the majority of the time bailing water from the boat because he isn’t fit enough to help rowing. He distracts himself from the situation by thinking of his favorite foods. The Oiler (Billie) – by far the most optimistic of the group. Also the only member that ends up dying. The Captain – He is injured when The Commodore capsizes. He is quiet and remains calm, only speaking to give orders. The Correspondent – Presumably Stephen Crane. A young reporter that helps The Oiler with the rowing duties. He doesn’t keep a positive attitude and often wonders if he is meant to drown. Characters
The Commodore ends up sinking and the men in the life boat get caught in the storm. They are not able to experience the beauty of nature because they are trying to get to safety. Man vs. Nature They spot a light house off in the distance and even though they don’t think they can make it, they try anyway. Their spirits aren’t high when they begin their search for land, but as they continue to work together a sense of fellowship and brotherhood is achieved. Plot
As they move closer to the light house, the men see a house on the shore and anticipate that they the people will come out and save them. As they approach the shore, the men start to celebrate. Then they realize there are no signs of life. The men decide to try to swim to shore because the boat is taking on water faster than they can get it out. They see 2 men on the shore, but soon realize that the men are just waving to them and don’t understand their dilemma. They begin to wonder why they have been brought so close to shore if they have no actual chance of reaching it Plot continued…
The sea finally settles, the sun has set, and even though they’ve lost all hope, they continue to row They wake up caught in a storm, they decide to try to swim to shore. The swim to the shore is incredibly tough, but 3 of them make it. The Oiler ends up drowning. A man on shore pulls the men to safety as they get closer to the shore. Plot continued…
Is nature indifferent? The humans’ fate rests with forces beyond their control The men would like to believe that they have a say in what happens to them, but in the end they don’t. What does the boat symbolize? The boat is just bobbing along in the ocean, just as human life is bobbing along among the universe’s uncertainties. The boat is “open,” which means it is unprotected. The same way a human is unprotected from suffering. Nature