The Characteristics Of Naturalism In Stephen Crane's The Open Boat

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In this essay I will be focusing on the features of naturalism and its effects on the behaviours of the characters in the story. In addition I will help develop the story as I focus on existentialism as the supporting theme. But before I begin to explore the conflict in this story, man vs nature I will first begin by defining what I mean by nature borrowing a quote by Mr. Robert Huntington in 1916:
Imagination penetrates below the surface and comprehends and brings to light the deeper forces and facts--the real controlling instincts of characters, the real motives for actions, and the relations of material things to those of the spiritual world and of Man to Nature and God
Stephen Crane’s The Open Boat, focuses on the power of nature and its ability to influence people and their souls. The frightening force of Nature appears to be taunting these men, leaving an imprint of loneliness and vulnerability while floating atop an agitated sea
"These waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem in small boat navigation"(Crane 246).
The characters (the correspondent) are regularly found echoing their thoughts and …show more content…

Existentialism is “is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe” (Mastin 2008). But the correspondent is finding it difficult to reason with the death of Billie. Because he sees in the end, they have had little control over their own destinies. Their free-will had been stripped from them and their fate rested in the hands of Nature. Are people too small to be considered for divine benevolence, and are the forces directing these behaviors blind to the individuals-fate? The correspondent kneels to one knee in a raging sea, but instead of prayer he is heard saying "Yes, but I love myself" (Cane

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