The Open Boat By Stephen Crane: Annotated Bibliography

Abu Baker, Ahmad M.S., and Amer Hassan Al-Rashid. ‘Natural Providence? In Stephen Crane’s ‘The Open Boat’: Naturalism, Romanticism, Ecology / Stephen Crane’ in ‘The Open Boat’ Adli Oykusunde Doganin Ilahi Takdiri: Naturalizm, Romantizm, Ekoloji.’ Interactions, vol. 17, no. 1, 2008, p. 1+. Gale Academic Onefile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A19571026/AONE?u= j061902&sid=AONE &xid=c8af6fba. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.

In Baker’s analysis, he provides evidence that nature is a mindful goddess of retribution rather than an indifferent force. Although most critics argue that the death of the oiler was arbitrary, Baker suggests the oiler was purposefully selected to die because he stands for pollution and contamination. Although Crane is known as a naturalistic writer, Baker brings up the similarities that “The Open Boat” shares with Coleridge’s romantic poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” such as the structure, themes, elements, and the moral lessons that are taught. Baker believes that the similarities undoubtedly prove that Crane was influenced by Coleridge’s poem and therefore can be viewed through a nineteenth century Romantic perspective, which lines up with the claim of nature being a supernatural, mindful force. Because the Oiler’s job causes the most harm to the environment, Baker argues that nature purposely killed him over the other sailors.

Elliot, Mark. ”Interpreting’ the Uninterpretable: Unreasoning Nature and Heroic Endurance in Crane’s ‘The Open Boat.”’ Gale Online Encyclopedia, Gale, 2019. Literature Resource Center, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1420006148/GLS?u=j0611902&sid=GLS&xid=901 f0806. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.

Elliot examines how Crane converted his shipwreck experience into a complex short story. Elliot contends that although “The Open Boat” has all the standard marks of realism, it is more than just a realistic fiction due to the philosophical issues and symbolism throughout the story. He suggests that the theme and motivation was for Crane to portray his true meaning of heroism. Furthermore, Elliot believes that Crane reflected upon his shipwreck, and adapted it to a fictional account that shows the theme of heroism in the face of imminent death. He believes that the heroism of the characters in the story come from their determination and brotherhood in attempting to overcome their situation. Crane is compared to the naturalist writers who focused on whether humans had control of their fate or if it is only controlled by their environment, but where he differs from naturalists is that he does not assume the existence of discernable laws of nature. In “The Open Boat” nature is without reason or ultimate purpose and is indifferent to man.

Eye, Stefanie Bates. ‘Fact, Not Fiction: Questioning Our Assumptions about Crane’s ‘The Open Boat.”’ Short Story Criticism, edited by Joseph Palmisano, vol. 70, Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H14200 56845/GLS?u=j061902&sid =GL S&xid =b9ba3d 87. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019. Originally published in Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 35, no. 1, Fall 1998, pp. 65-76.

Eye begins by discussing the controversy over the factuality of Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat,” which was published several weeks after Crane’s shipwrecks in which he was lost at sea for 30 hours. The consensus among scholars is that although the story is based in fact, it is a work of fiction. Eye refutes the consensus among scholars, contending that the short story is not just a work of fiction based on fact, but literary nonfiction, a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create a factual narrative. Crane’s early life consisted of writing in a journalistic form of nonfiction for newspapers and often being fired for being too subtle and ironic for newspapers at the time. Eye believes that after being rejected by journalism, Crane was compelled to explore the philosophical implications of his ship wreck and was intentionally seeking a creative approach to his true story. She believes Crane’s possible use of literary nonfiction would certainly makes sense considering his frustrations with the limitations of his previous profession. Furthermore, other scholars argue that the themes, motifs, and imagery present in “The Open Boat” were in the mind of Crane before his experience at sea and Crane realized that his shipwreck would be a perfect vessel for his ideas to come together. Eye believes that the resolution to this controversy resides in our ability to look at old pieces of literature in a new, demanding way.

LaFrance, Marston. ”The Matter That Pleased Himself.” Short Story Criticism, edited by Jelena O. Krstovic, vol. 129, Gale, 2010. Literature Resource Center, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1420096864/GLS?u=j061902&sid=GLS&xid=063e503c. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019. Originally published in A Reading of Stephen Crane, Clarendon Press, 1971, pp. 192-242.

LaFrance analyzes the structure, conflict, and ironic elements of several of Crane’s stories including “The Open Boat.”’ He explains that Crane’s purpose for an alternating point of view between the men within the boat and that of a detached observer is to show the constant threat that the sea imposes. Furthermore, he states that from an outside observer the scene would be oddly picturesque, but the men in the boat do not have time to see it, which emphasizes the danger of the sea. He goes on to discuss the conflict which dominates the mind of the sailors: the extremely dangerous business of passing through the surf to reach land. Crane makes sure to establish the sea as the main concern of the sailors and mentions the hazards of the sea at least fifteen times before the boat sinks. LaFrance explains that the characters focus on the dangers of the sea is the reason for movement and progression through the story. He then goes on to discuss how Crane gradually sets forth the moral truth he wishes to communicate by prolonging the story an extra night before the sailors were rescued. The extra time at sea brings awareness to the men before their encounter with the sea and they notice nature’s indifference towards them before the boat sinks. He mentions that this is the first time that both the fears and illusions of one of Crane’s protagonists are dissipated.

Monteiro, George. ‘The Logic Beneath ‘The Open Boat’.’ Short Story Criticism, edited by Joseph Palmisano, vol. 70, Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1420056830/GLS?u=j061902&sid=GLS&xid=1529435a. Accessed 12 Nov. 2019. Originally published in The Georgia Review, vol. 25, no. 3, Fall 1972, pp. 326-335.

In Monterio’s analysis, he examines the theme of fate and the character’s perceived control of their situation that they do not have. He points out an example of how knowledge obstructs the character’s perception through a misreading of reality when the characters convince themselves of help in the distance and even celebrate with cigars, but in reality there is no help. Montreio further emphasized the lack of control we have when mentioning the death of the oiler. Although, the oiler is presented as the physically strongest out of the characters he is the one to die to the tide which can only be explained by fate.

‘The Open Boat.’ Short Story Criticism, edited by Joseph Palmisano, vol. 70, Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1410001091/GLS?u=j061902&sid=GLS&xid=1c084018. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.

Palmisan opens his analysis by discussing Cranes use of vivid imagery to emphasize both the beauty and danger of natural forces and to communicate the conflict between the sailors and sea. He then goes on to consider the plot, stating that the story is divided into seven parts with alternating viewpoints, which is used to show how the incident is interpreted from the perspective of the four main characters. In the first four parts the moods of the characters change from anger towards what they feel is a hostile sea to empathy towards one another and the realization that nature is indifferent to their fate. Palmisan went on to examine the major themes of the story. Critics believe that the central themes of the story are man’s struggle against nature, the fragility of human existence, the fight for survival, and the power of brotherhood. He closes his analysis by discussing the critical reception of “The Open Boat.” Some critics consider the story as naturalistic, but recent studies have deemed it as a good example of the genre, literary nonfiction. “The Open Boat” is considered a masterpiece and one of Crane’s best short stories among critics.