Summary And Symbolism Exposed In Stephen Crane's The Open Boat

The Open Boat This story makes clear one more times the idea that nature is ultimately indifferent to the human condition, possessing no consciousness that we can understand. The reality of nature’s lack of concern for human beings is becoming increasingly clear in The Open Boat, by Stephen Crane. The oiler’s death and lack of explanation surrounding it reinforce the randomness of nature’s tricks and symbolize the indifference of nature toward man. The death of oiler is ironic, because he is no more deserving of death than any other crew member, and in fact, he is less deserving because he has worked the hardest under the most physical strain. As Crane said, “The plan of the oiler and the correspondent was for one to row until he was no longer able… The oiler worked the oars until his head dropped forward and the overpowering sleep blinded him;” (10). He didn’t deserved to lose his life after such a hard work, but his death highlights the fact that nature is arbitrary in how it chooses its victims. Ironic is the fact

The men on the sea, have formed a brotherhood where they depend on each other to survive, and they find comfort in being together, “they were friends—friends in a more strangely iron-bound strength than may be ordinary”(3). The friendship that they form helps them to survive nature 's attack. Moving forward, Crane informed the readers that the four men, they knew that their destiny are controlled by some outside force. Even if they had the same thoughts, they didn’t share them which each other: "If I am going to lose my life to the sea--if I am going to lose my life to the sea--if I am going to lose my life to the sea— why, was I allowed to come this far and see sand and trees?” (11). All of them consider unfair that nature will let them down, will be indifferent with their struggles and their desire to