Summary Of Stephen Crane's The Open Boat
Image, the wee hours of the morning, a ship sinking and its crew abandoning the vessel in a lifeboat with only the thought of survival, unware of what dangers await them in the darkness of the sea. Ironically this is the grim reality of the men in the story The Open Boat written by Stephen Crane. What makes this story interesting is the fact that Crane was actually a passenger on the Commodore when it sank. During this time in American history it seems to be several shipwrecks along the coast of Florida. For the author he witnessed one of these disasters first hand. Therefore, Crane wrote The Open Boat based on his account of what happened on the fatefully morning when the steamer Commodore sank. Even though Crane wrote The Open Boat as
a fictional piece, there are many aspects of the story that is true. According to the article Loss of the Commodore, “the dingy, occupied by the Captain and companions was twenty-seven hours at sea, Montgomery and Crane holding Capt. Murphy’s overcoat as a sail until the beach was sighted” (The New York Times, 1897). In relation to this article, The Open Boat states:
“I wish we had a sail,” remarked the captain. “We might try my overcoat on the end of an oar and give you two boys a chance to rest.” So the cook and the correspondent held the mast and spread wide the overcoat. (Crane, 1897).
The Open Boat also gives some insight on how the men had to abandon the dingy and swim towards land,
“Now boys,” said the captain, “she is going to swamp sure. All we can do is to work her in as far as possible, and then when she swamps, pile out and scramble for the beach. Keep cool now, and don’t jump until she swamps sure.” (Crane, 1897, p. 1781)
This piece from the story is also consistent with the article Loss of the Commodore it stated, “Montgomery, Crane and Murphy were washed to the beach, where citizens provides them with medical attendance” (The New York Times, 1897). In retrospect, the New York Times article revealed that much of the fictional story of The Open Boat had an abundance of truth to the tragic events that occurred on the commodore.
a fictional piece, there are many aspects of the story that is true. According to the article Loss of the Commodore, “the dingy, occupied by the Captain and companions was twenty-seven hours at sea, Montgomery and Crane holding Capt. Murphy’s overcoat as a sail until the beach was sighted” (The New York Times, 1897). In relation to this article, The Open Boat states:
“I wish we had a sail,” remarked the captain. “We might try my overcoat on the end of an oar and give you two boys a chance to rest.” So the cook and the correspondent held the mast and spread wide the overcoat. (Crane, 1897).
The Open Boat also gives some insight on how the men had to abandon the dingy and swim towards land,
“Now boys,” said the captain, “she is going to swamp sure. All we can do is to work her in as far as possible, and then when she swamps, pile out and scramble for the beach. Keep cool now, and don’t jump until she swamps sure.” (Crane, 1897, p. 1781)
This piece from the story is also consistent with the article Loss of the Commodore it stated, “Montgomery, Crane and Murphy were washed to the beach, where citizens provides them with medical attendance” (The New York Times, 1897). In retrospect, the New York Times article revealed that much of the fictional story of The Open Boat had an abundance of truth to the tragic events that occurred on the commodore.