Stephen Crane’s Use of Community and Brotherhood in “The Open Boat”, Essay Example

Man is not by nature a solitary creature. In order to survive against nature, which at times can be cruel and harsh, humans have always formed communities, depending on their fellow man in an oath of brotherhood in order to survive and prosper. That bond permeates every aspect of society.  For a crew at sail in the open ocean, this bond of brotherhood is even more pronounced. Men are together for long periods of time, struggling to survive in the ocean, over which fierce storms can suddenly erupt, threatening the lives of everyone on the ship. Each crew member must depend on each other for their own survival, and because of this the sense of brotherhood that develops is strong. When tragedy strikes, those bonds of brotherhood are put to the test. In Crane’s story, “The Open Boat” four men, trapped on a small dingy in the middle of an open ocean, must depend on one another for survival. While they continue to row the boat to shore, they hold the hope that help is on its way. However, as the cold, dark hours roll by, it becomes more apparent that help is elusive, and that in order to make it to shore alive, the men must rely on each other and to the advice of their captain.  Stephen Crane, in his short story, “The Open Boat”, explores this bond between men and the necessity for brotherhood and community in order to survive against the harshness of nature in a story that is both hopeful and tragic.

The story’s setting develops the theme of the necessity of brotherhood for survival against nature. “The Open Boat” opens with the men in a dire situation. They are stranded, floating in the open ocean in a small lifeboat, struggling to reach shore where, they hope, rescuers await. The ocean is cold, and the air around them is colder. Crane uses strong imagery to describe the scene in which the story is set, which is an outer manifestation of the inner emotional state of the men. He opens the story describing the situation facing the men. “None of them knew the color of the sky. Their eyes glanced level, and were fastened upon the waves that swept toward them. These waves were of the hue of slate, save for the tops, which were of foaming white, and all of the men knew the colors of the sea (Crane, I).” The fact that the men do not know the color of the sky tells us two things. One is that the men are only aware of what is in front of them, which is the waves that continuously threaten to capsize their small ship. The other is that the sky is the color of the ocean, gray and dark. Clouds hide the sun and the sky, making it gray and cold. They are huddled for warmth in the small dingy, clinging together for strength against the ocean that, at any moment, threatens to engulf them. The scene allows the reader to understand how the men are feeling, alone, floating in the open ocean, with only each other for comfort. If the men were alone, without each other, survival would be doubtful. However, since the men are together, there is the hope that they will all survive.

The story opens with the men talking of reaching a rescue station. The rescue station is supposed to be on shore and manned by the community in order to help sailors in need of help. The correspondent says, “As I understand them, they [rescue stations] are only places where clothes and grub are stored for the benefit of shipwrecked people (Crane, I).” The men know that the community has provided for them, yet there is doubt as to whether or not it will be simply provisions they encounter or actual men to help them. The hope that the rescue station is manned becomes dimmer as they approach the station and no help appears to be forthcoming. “Funny they don’t see us (Crane, IV)!” exclaims the cook. Then the reality of the situation sinks in. “The lightheartedness of a former time had completely faded. To their sharpened minds it was easy to conjure pictures of all kinds of incompetency and blindness and, indeed, cowardice. There was the shore of the populous land, and it was bitter and bitter to them that from it came no sign.” When it becomes apparent that the rescue station is not manned, the men look to each other. The men realize then that it is not just civilization that they must rely on for survival, but each other and their oath of brotherhood. As they row out again towards open water, since the waves close to shore keep threatening to swamp them, they turn to each other to discuss the situation and what they must to in order to reach the shore. The men find themselves alone once again in their tiny boat, with only their faith and hope in each other to keep out the impending doom.

Crane recognizes that the bond of brotherhood that develops between the crew of a ship is stronger than most. “It would be difficult to describe the subtle brotherhood of men that was here established on the seas. No one said that it was so. No one mentioned it. But it dwelt in the boat, and each man felt it warm him (Crane, III).” The bond between the men is essential for their survival. Only they, seemingly, know that they are lost at sea and they must depend on each other, and themselves in order to make it to shore alive.  Each man has duty on the small row boat. Billie, the oiler, and the correspondent take turns rowing tirelessly. The Captain, though injured, maintains his duties as leader of the group, and continues to navigate them safely through the waters. The cook, who seems to be the least strong of the group, has the job of bailing out any water that comes into the boat, helping to keep it afloat. The men each fulfill their obligation to each other, working tirelessly to ensure the crew’s survival despite the fact that they are hungry, tired and cold. The men ask the captain, “Think we’ll make it (Crane, II).” and the captain answers, “if this wind holds and the boat don’t swamp, we can’t do much else (Crane, II).” The men have faith that by working together, nature will not get the best of them. They are confident that their bond of brotherhood to save then.

Throughout the story, Crane provides specific examples of how the team is rewarded when they act as a team.     Billie, the oiler, and the correspondent take turns rowing, each agreeing to row until he can row no further, so then the other one can rest. While each man is tired and hungry, they know that they must cooperate to keep the boat afloat and everyone safe. The captain is injured, and cannot row, and the cook is not as strong. The cook, then, bails out instead, keeping the boat water free. The captain navigates and maintains leadership of the crew. “The hurt captain, lying against the water-jar in the bow, spoke always in a low voice and calmly, but he could never command a more ready and swiftly obedient crew than the motley three of the dingey (Crane, III).” The captain, though injured, still knows the seas and the crew recognizes that it is by following his guidance that they will make it to safety. When the captain see’s that the two men, the oiler and the correspondent, are tired from rowing, he suggests making a sail out of his jacket and the oars. The plan is a success and the men are given a reprieve from rowing while the wind was up. Again, following their captains advice, as a team, they were successful.

When it becomes apparent that help is not on its way, the captain advises that they make a swim for it, before they are all too exhausted to make it. The waves are threatening to swamp the boat as they row closer. Before taking the plunge, the men exchange address and information, in case one of them should not make it to shore. The men look at each other, and know that it has come to this. As a team they have made it this far, escaping sinking ship, rowing for days on the open ocean, tired, distraught and hungry. They are alive, thanks to each other. Then the captain gives the crew his last words of advice. “All we can do is work her in as far as possible, and when she swamps, pile out and scramble for the beach. Keep cool now, and don’t jump until she swamps for sure (Crane, VII).” As they prepare to leave the boat, a wave suddenly swamps the boat, and the men are cast out into the cold, dark waters of the ocean. They begin to swim to shore, and the correspondent gets caught in a current. In this moment, he feels what it is like to be alone, with be without your community, caught in the harsh grasp of Mother Nature. While the boat may not have been perfect, it held the warmth of brotherhood and companionship. Out in nature, all alone, things are a lot less hopeful.

In the end, three men make it to shore. Billie, the oiler, is found face down in the surf. Under the leadership of the captain, the men survived. Billie, who went ahead of the group, did not. Had he stayed with the other men, in the bond of brotherhood, then perhaps he too would have survived.  The overarching theme of brotherhood and community being a necessary part of survival in a world that is indifferent to your survival, and sometimes even cruel or harsh, is powerfully symbolized in the death of Billie. Throughout the story, Billie worked as a team with the other men, and during that time they are successful, surviving despite the treacherous waves and biting cold. Yet, in the end, he neglects the others and heads off on his own while the others say behind, helping each other. The captain does not go off without the other men, who are struggling. The correspondent is stuck in the current and the cook is having trouble staying afloat. The captain stays with them, gives them advice as Billie swims ahead. In the end, the other three make it while Billie does not.

Stephen Crane crafts a powerful tale in “The Open Boat”, exploring the theme of brotherhood and its necessity for survival. Crane’s use setting, character and plot is successful in conveying the theme of brotherhood. While nature is indifferent as to who survives and who does not, men sworn to each other in brotherhood are not indifferent and will go to great lengths to ensure one another’s survival.  There was tragedy in the story, with Billies death, but the men that survived that day will never forget the powerful lesson that they learned that day, to never turn your back on your brothers, for there is strength in numbers.

References

Crane, Stephen (1897) “The Open Boat” http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1514/