Mason Labash
English 48b
March 24, 2011
Journal: Stephen Crane

“If I am going to be drowned – if I am going to be drowned – 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 thus far and contemplate sand and trees?”(p.1009)

“Critics regard the central themes of “The Open Boat” to be man's eternal struggle against nature, the fragility of human existence, the struggle for survival, and the power of community.”

The oarsman has been rowing for what seems like an eternity and is totally exhausted. In his mind he couldn't have worked any harder to save himself and his comrades. He feels that he deserves to make it to the shore alive because he has come so far and has expelled so much effort. He believes that there are seven gods that rule the sea and that this little dinghy is somehow the object of their attention at the moment. This little dinghy among the thousands of other boats in the immensely vast ocean has gained a reasonable amount of attention from the gods in the oarsman's eyes. He and his three buddies are at the top of their to-do list and they would be held responsible if this dinghy were to capsize. He assumes the gods are also very compassionate and that they have morals that they cannot go against. If they were to die after coming so far it would be unfair. Since the shore is in view it makes it so much more unreasonable for them to not make it there. He puts his fate in the hands of the gods and thinks that they're helping him survive this ordeal. His use of the word “allowed” suggests that the gods allowed him to be successful so far. Since the gods are responsible for his life and let him get a taste of land it would be cruel of them to snatch it away.

This quote can be looked at from an existentialist perspective. The oarsman's belief in a higher power are used to give his struggle a very substantial reason for existing. He thinks that whatever happens to them is the result of the gods influencing them because they are concerned with their lives. Crane is demonstrating that the occupants of the boat are solely responsible for giving their plight's significance. The men making it as far as they did is because the laws of physics allowed it, not because the universe cares about them. The correspondent is slowly realizing that he is extremely insignificant as far as nature is concerned. The only person who has influence over the outcome of this venture is himself. There is actually nothing ridiculous about the men making it so close to shore and then drowning because the universe is indifferent to whatever effort or bravery is exhibited by the men. The correspondent wants to believe that the cosmos does things for a reason and that it puts thought into its decision making. He has a hard to accepting the fact that things don't happen for a reason, they just happen. Crane is making a point that our own ego and selfish nature are what make us feel important.

"Stephen Crane The Open Boat Criticism." ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson Plans, and More. Web. 25 Mar. 2011. <http://www.enotes.com/short-story-criticism/open-boat-stephen-crane>.