Open Boat

Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat" is very much "open" to interpretation. The story revolving around four men on a small boat braving a raging sea in hopes to save themselves from death points to many interesting comparisons and deep symbolism. The purpose of this essay is to examine the five main characters of this story and how they collectively represent something more than the sum of their parts. This essay will argue that the five main characters in this story are the four shipmates: the captain, the oiler, the cook and the correspondent, plus the characterization of mother nature herself which serves as the story's powerful antagonist. The essay will explore the idea that each crew member by himself cannot adequately represent a hero, yet when all are synthesized together a rich and truthful story emanates from this collective.

Crane uses the number four to relate...
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