Stephen Crane, Darwinism, and Fate During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, American literature

took a turn in regards to the themes and characterization presented in written works. The most popular theme in American literature that preceded this era was realism. The new literature included many common themes including naturalism, fate, and Darwinism along with a concept of irony included in each. Although many scholars believe that these two are similar and interlinked in certain circumstances, there are still different characteristics between them such as in naturalism, the focus is on the innate strength and uncaring qualities of nature whereas in realism, the focus was to create as realistic a scene as possible. Stephen Crane was one of the most prominent authors during this period and his work, The Open Boat, is a perfect example of the relationship between man and nature, and most importantly man and fate. Throughout The Open Boat, Crane alludes to the power of nature and how, in the actual realm of the universe, humans are relatively very weak and have little to no impact on the outcome of their situations. The story begins with the four main characters on a lifeboat which Crane remarks, many a man ought to have a bathtub larger than after their boat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Florida (748). During their time at sea, in which they are knocking on deaths door throughout the duration, many events occur in which Crane, playing himself as the correspondent on the boat, reflects on the unruly and unpredictable disposition of nature as the unrelenting waves continue to beat upon their lifeboat.

Naturalism in literature is used to emphasize the role of environment upon human characters.1 This aspect of literature is abundantly present throughout this story, but most noticeably when the correspondent asks, as though to the sky or nature itself, 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? . . . If this old ninny-woman, Fate, cannot do better than this, she should be deprived of the management of mens fortunes. . . But no; she cannot mean to drown me. She dare not drown me. She cannot drown me. Not after all this work (753). Crane, in this short story, depicts four men struggling against a natural world that is both destructive and indifferent which is an inherent aspect of naturalism (UNCP). Nature has already spared these men at sea and is still making it hard for them to aspire to survive. The correspondent is wondering why, if he was spared when the big ship initially sunk, nature is still making survival such a difficult task. This brings upon the concept of irony: although something good happens, as in surviving a shipwreck, one still does not know what fate has in store for them in the future. Irony, the incongruity of events, plays a large role in this story and in the aspect of

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naturalism itself. Because the correspondent makes several references to a fate of death after his apparent survival, he casts a looming atmosphere of irony throughout the story. The realization of how strong nature truly is brings a thought to the reader that, contrary to popular belief, humans are not as powerful as one may think and likewise they cannot determine their own future. Another instance in which Crane, again, calls out nature is when the correspondent is peering at the blue ocean reflecting on the waves crashing against their small vessel and natures apathy toward the lives of humans: When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him. . . Any visible expression of nature would surely be pelleted with jeers (758-59). Again, Crane is noting that nature is allpowerful and has the ability to do with humans what it wants. Against nature, all humans are helpless in a sense compared to the overwhelming power of natural forces such as the ocean and waves of the sea. One of the key aspects of literary naturalism is that man is at the mercy of nature, not visa versa. Once a person realizes this innate fact about nature, it is hard to imagine survival as an option, unless fate holds otherwise. The image of Fate is another prevalent theme that is mentioned in this cry of disdain and despair towards the sky. In Greek mythology, the Fates are three women dressed in white robes who are often referred to as the sparing ones whose job is to decide how long humans are intended to live. 2 In this short story the main character

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refers to the Fates as the old ninny-woman (753). Often, when naturalism is present, fate plays a large role as well in determining the outcome of a mans life. Throughout this short story, Crane uses the idea of fate in regards to naturalism numerous times in the correspondents monologues, as he reflects on the waves and the sea all the while not knowing whether he is destined to survive or to drown. Man does not know his fate and cannot change his fate. The correspondent is asking, as though to the fates themselves, if he is destined to survive this ordeal. This concept of Fate as a ninnywoman is another ironic element of the story. Fate being perceived as a ninnywoman is ironic since he is calling fate a representation of a weak woman, when she is truly the most powerful woman in control of our lives, pathways, and destiny. A third theme commonly present in American literature during the time of Stephen Crane is that of Darwinism. The idea behind Darwinism is that the strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die (ThinkQuest).3 Cranes The Open Boat ultimately goes against this theory by presenting each character and the qualities they have. While three of the men are regularly built, one man the oiler stands out as being the strongest and most physically capable of the four. During the correspondents account of what transpires on the lifeboat, he notes that one of the other men on board is an oiler. The oiler, Billie, is the only character whose name is mentioned during the story. In addition to being the only character with a name in the story, he is also the strongest of the four. Throughout the story, the

correspondent notes several times that the oiler is the strongest, and if the opportunity presented itself, he would be the most likely to be able to swim all the way to shore. While swimming ashore, the correspondent, cook, and captain stay together, helping one another out, and the correspondent notices that the oiler has taken off in a different direction. It is then that he feels as though the only person who will make it ashore is the oiler. As the three men get closer to shore, they see a man running toward them undressing. The three men make it safely, yet wearily, to shore with the help of the man from the beach. As mentioned earlier, the oiler had swum a different direction than they had and there was still no sign of him. As the correspondent is walking along the shoreline in search for the oiler, he finds him facedown, half on land and half in the sea. This realization that the strongest person aboard the lifeboat was the only one to perish goes directly against the accepted fact Darwin so plainly stated, that only the strongest will survive. Again, the concept of irony is an element that appears throughout the story. The fact that the strongest and fittest of the group does not survive not only plays against Darwinism, but is a basic definition of irony itself. This concept of irony opens the doors to the element of chance in regards to Darwinism. Even though the oiler, the strongest person on the lifeboat, was the only of the four men to perish, it can be said that his death does not quite go against Darwinism. This is because there is an element of chance in Darwinist theory. He was the strongest and, according to Darwins theory, he should have been the only of the four to survive. However, there was still a chance that he would die. Likewise, because of

the element of chance inherent in Darwinist thought, the other three were the sole survivors. Throughout Cranes short story, there are numerous themes and the ones that play the largest roles are naturalism, fate, and Darwinism: three of the most prevalent themes throughout the early 19th century in American literature. Crane approaches each of these with the utmost care and detail, including irony and chance in them. However naturalism is the most focused on aspect/theme in this story. Nature plays a role in each persons life and, whether witnessing its power firsthand or seeing its strength on the television, it is a force to be reckoned with. Stephen Cranes The Open Boat is one of the more prominent naturalistic works of the early 19th century and presents the ferocious, powerful, and unrelenting characteristics of nature. The curious thing about life is that no one knows what he or she is destined for, or better yet what is destined for him or her. Unfortunately, in the recent past, man has discarded the notion that nature is stronger than he, but the grim fact of life is this: nature will always, no matter what, overpower humans.