STEPHEN CRANE Born in Newark, New Jersey on Nov. 1, th child of a Methodist minister Wrote stories since he was 8 yrs. Old Age 16– writing for the New York Times

RESEARCH FOR MAGGIE GIRL OF THE STREETS Moved to New York in 1890 after his mother’s death. While supporting himself with his writing, he lived among the poor in the Bowery slums to do research for Maggie Milestone in development of literary naturalism

Maggie Girl of the Streets Went on sale in 1893 No bookstand or newspaper would touch it (too sexually explicit) Crane printed novella with his own money from the inheritance his mother left him. Published novel under the name Johnson Smith so as not to embarrass his brothers. Sales were so poor he used copies to prop up his desk while he wrote The Red Badge of Courage

After Maggie Was a war correspondent for the Spanish- American War Traveled to Cuba His story “The Open Boat” is based on experience—his ship sank on his journey to Cuba in 1896 Spent several days drifting before he was rescued –impaired his health

END OF LIFE 1898-settled in Sussex, England 1899-returned to Cuba to cover the Spanish American War Died on June 5, 1900 of Tuberculosis

Quote from Stephen Crane Crane wrote that the novel Maggie "tries to show that environment is a tremendous thing in the world and frequently shapes lives regardless." But he went on to write that, "if one proves that theory, one makes room in heaven for all sorts of souls who are not confidently expected to be there by many excellent people."

MAGGIE SETTING 1890s New York City’s Bowery section 14 block area 82 saloons, brothels, opium dens, dance halls, cheap vaudeville. Physical environment reflects social values of the area Battlefield—physical abuse and fighting (violence and arrogance was praised Social prison- amoral and animalistic world (see examples in Chapter XI)

RUM ALLEY (Maggie and Jimmie’s street) Urban squalor/ human wickedness Populated by the vulgar Setting = inner chaos and turmoil of characters (mirror of their souls) Maggie is a victim of this environment despite her best efforts to escape No parental role models Romantic illusion of what she wants her life to be No idea of how to formulate a workable plan to escape WHAT IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF?