The Open Boat: Analysis of the Characters
One of the major conflicts in this story is the age-old conflict between man and nature. The men must conquer the sea in order to survive, and so, they are in conflict with the sea, which does not care about their survival at all. Crane writes, "A singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover that there is another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats" (Crane). Until they can make it to land, they are in constant danger of dying. Thus, they are in conflict with the ocean and all its power, while they have little power over it. The natural world is a common element of conflict in fiction, because it is beyond man's control. While men can control machinery, technology, and most aspects of their lives, they have no control over Mother Nature, and so, she makes the perfect fictional opponent. These men have the skills to survive on the ocean, but they are still surviving on the whim of Mother Nature. Crane alludes to this in the story, right before the men are poised to make a run through the surf to the shore. He writes, "It represented in a degree, to the correspondent, the serenity of n
These men have nothing but the clothing on their backs to keep out the weather, and so they are extremely ill prepared to deal with any kind of storm or other weather emergency. Even the captain manages to survive, but the oiler is lost. The conflicts make the story more exciting, but they also add an element of reality. His forehead touched sand that was periodically, between each wave, clear of the sea" (Crane). They are physically weakened, which can make them more vulnerable to the weather, as well. Man cannot control the elements; the only thing they can control is their endurance and patience. Mother Nature is indifferent to their fate, and so, they must take their fate into their own hands and make sure they overcome the obstacles placed before them in the open boat. The men must also manage to survive the weather. ature amid the struggles of the individual -- nature in the wind, and nature in the vision of men. The conflict between man and the weather is also a common element in fiction because again, man cannot control the weather; he can only do what he can to survive in bouts of bad weather. Crane continues, "The wind had a voice as it came over the waves, and it was sadder than the end" (Crane). Crane notes, "The cook continued to sleep, but the oiler sat up, blinking his eyes and shaking with the new cold" (Crane). In conclusion, conflict between the elements and other people are at the heart of this adventure story, and they help make it more rich and compelling. The author uses conflict extremely effectively to make the story dramatic, and he uses characterization to make the reader care about the outcome.
Common topics in this essay:
Mother Nature,
,
Nature Crane,
mother nature,
own physical,
crane notes,
conflicts story,
stay alive,
days nights,
common element,
survive conflict,
reach shore,
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Acceptance Essays
