Naturalism In "The Open Boat"

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of view. The story is somewhat based on one of Crane's actual life experiences. In Crane's Life and Times, Crews states, " The Open Boat is almost a factual account of Crane's experience, but is also a work of art whose place among the best American short stories is secure" (125). With the story being told through the correspondent's point of view the story gives Crane an advantage to be very descriptive. In Stephen Crane's: Naturalist and Impressionist, Walcutt says, "Crane's writings on naturalism are very descriptive to his readers" (215).
Another important aspect of realism in, "The Open Boat," is the location of the story. The location in the story is significant because the group of four guys can all see the lighthouse. Each and everyone of them has a general idea as to where their location. The fact that they are close enough to land to see the lighthouse but not able to make it to land was terribly frustrating. The sailors and the captain can at one point see, ...

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Crane uses symbols and archetypes throughout the story to make it have a great deal of meaning. There are many things throughout the story that are symbolic. In,"The Open Boat: A Work of Figurative Language and Imagery," Crane writes, "The black shadow, which represents the gloom and hopelessness the sea offers to the men's situation," (Claudon). In the overall picture the black shadow is constantly present to remind the reader how hopeless their situation is. Another thing that is symbolic in the story are the gulls. The gulls would usually represent a welcome sight to the sailors, but instead the gulls stare at them with their black bead like eyes which brings discomfort to ...

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