“The Open Boat” Theme: Nature’s Indifference and the Struggle of Humankind

Introduction:

Stranded at sea and at the mercy of nature, many realizations can be made about the relationship between nature and mankind. “The Open Boat,” a short story by Stephen Crane, is a very symbolic piece of writing that is full of details that are still relevant today. One of the many themes that stands out throughout the story is the theme that nature appears to be indifferent to mankind. This theme is the backbone of the story as the men struggle to get to shore.

This theme is still relevant in today’s world as we struggle with global challenges such as climate change. Crane uses many literary devices throughout the story that add fascinating details that lie below the surface of the story. The struggle between humankind and nature is definitely the most substantial and important theme of the story “The Open Boat,” which can be seen through Crane’s use of symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery.

Symbolism of the Boat: Metaphor for Humanity's Struggle:

There are many aspects of the story that show the struggle against nature. For instance, the boat in the story is representative of the lifeline of the sailors. The boat is first introduced to the reader as very small. In fact, Crane compares the size of the boat to the size of a bathtub, “Many a man ought to have a bathtub larger than the boat.” The size of the boat is notably important because there are four men in this boat of this size. Crane adds this detail because it shows that there is not much room left for hope. The size of the boat is also important as it is a symbol of the size of mankind compared to the size of nature. “In a ten-foot dinghy, one can get an idea of the resources of the sea,” compares the size of their boat to the expanse amount of resources that nature holds. These are a few of the foundational details of the story that lead to the men’s realizations of nature’s ways.

Seagulls: A Glimpse of Hope and Patience:

The next obstacle that the men must face from nature is the seagulls that are constantly flying around them and landing on them. The birds are irritating to the men at the moment because they do not see the real meaning in the birds; the men still possess fundamental skills in life. The men are so focused on trying to be rescued that they do not focus on the significance of the birds. One significance of the birds is that the men are within close proximity to land, as the birds would not be in the middle of the ocean where there is no land. The men don’t really realize that the birds signal an end to their hardships. Another positive thing about the birds is that they truly show the men’s patience. One of the gulls landed on the captain’s head, and he had to be careful not to shoo it away too quickly and flip the boat. The captain does wait, signifying that the men still have the patience for whatever hardships may come their way. The birds are a significant symbol in the story as they show that the men still have indispensable skills such as patience.

Nature's True Self: The Shark's Harsh Reality:

One of the turning points in the story and when the men figure out nature’s true self is when nature sends a shark for the men. At the moment, the Correspondent is rowing the boat, and everyone else is sleeping. At this point in the story, the men are worn out, tired, and clinging to their last hopes of survival. The shark begins to circle the boat, and the Correspondent begins to think about how nature is cruel. “...If I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come this far and contemplate sand and trees?” This is the thought running through the Correspondent’s head as the shark circles the boat. He begins to comprehend that nature is indifferent to man and does not have a conscience. He realizes that nature has no reason to care for humans, nor does it have rhyme or reason for what it does. This is one of the turning points in the story as the men begin to realize that nature can do what it wants with no reason to care for how it will affect humans. On the contrary, humans must respect nature if they want to live a prosperous life.

An additional symbol that appears is one of the most interesting symbols in the story. While approaching land, the Correspondent removes eight cigars from his pocket, four of which were dry; he then finds three dry matches. This may be the most foreshadowing element of the story. He originally had eight cigars for the eight men who were on the original voyage; he then only found four dry ones for the four men who survived and made it on a lifeboat. However, he only finds three dry matches, which are a foreshadowing for what is later to come: the fact that only three men will survive the journey. Whether nature played a factor in this is unclear; however, Crane does a fantastic job of using foreshadowing here at this point of the story.

In addition to the symbolism and foreshadowing that Crane uses, he also uses imagery to show the men’s struggles against nature. Crane uses imagery when describing the oar of the boat. “It was a thin little oar, and it seemed often ready to snap” shows that their lifeline is running low and that the men do not have much of a chance to survive their surroundings. Furthermore, Crane uses imagery when describing the lighthouse to the reader, “It was precisely like the point of a pin. It took an anxious eye to find a lighthouse so tiny.” Crane describes that the lighthouse was really barely visible as it was merely a shadow in the distance. This shows how much hope the men had, as even a speck in the distance to them looks promising. Crane’s imagery adds an element to the story that lets the reader feel like they can see what the characters are seeing.

When the men finally have the chance to reach the shore and receive help, they are completely changed. They now have learned their lesson about nature and its unruly style. After the Oiler’s death, the men have seen the worst of what nature can do to them. They now respect nature and its own ways. They respect nature so much in the end that they consider themselves “interpreters.” 

Conclusion:

Stephen Crane’s story “The Open Boat” is an eye-opening story as it forces humans to realize that nature is indifferent to humans. Nature is not forced to be nice to mankind; in fact, nature is free to do what it wants. On the contrary, humans must respect nature as humans rely on nature to survive. The global challenges that face our world today put this relationship at risk. As the readers experience through Crane’s amazing symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery, mankind is at the mercy of nature; nature is at the mercy of no one.  

References:

1. Crane, Stephen. "The Open Boat." The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym, 8th ed., vol. C, W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 210-228.

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