Stephen Crane questions man's fate in this world through naturalism. In "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets," Crane shows the helplessness of one's state in relation to poverty, and in "The Open Boat," Crane shows the helplessness of one's state in relation to nature. Crane emphasizes the essence that forces, such as poverty and nature, are not adversaries to man, but rather that they are simply forces that are apathetic towards man. "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets" can be a downer, but it is necessary to read as it serves as a window into the lives of those in poverty. Crane portrays life and all the disappointments and injustices that surround poverty without softening the reality of the situation. Men turn to violence while women are left to turn to the streets. Maggie, the protagonist, is described as "small," "ragged," and "pretty" (949,956). However, all of her charisma and beauty is tarnished as she works at the sweatshop, "from her eyes had been plucked all look of self-reliance" (973). In the story, males act as the dominant force. Maggie sees Pete as "the beau deal of a man. Her dim thoughts were often searching for far away lands where, as God says, the little hills sing together in the morning. Under the trees of her dream-gardens there has always walked a lover" (958). Pete is Maggie's way out of her current impoverished state. Her looks are her only hope of escaping her current state, "she began to see the bloom upon her cheeks as valuable" (963). Maggie's life centers around pleasing Pete as she is dependent solely on Pete's attitude towards her. Pete shows his domination of the relationship when he witnesses Maggie's family violence and consequently shames her. On the other hand, Jimmy overhears the neighborhood gossip about Maggie being with Pete. He decides that it is unacceptable, so he beats up Pete at a bar until the cops show up. This shows a double standard as men can act in any manner they choose, however women, no matter what circumstance they are in, are expected to uphold to a certain standard of honor. Furthermore, Pete decides Maggie is not honorable enough and leaves Maggie. Maggie stays infatuated with Pete as he is her rescue from "her former Rum Alley environment" and the "damn jays" (974). Pete consumes all of Maggie's existence; "Her life was Pete's and she considered him worthy of the charge. She Would be disturbed by no particular apprehension, so long as Pete adored her" (974). However, he stopped adoring her, and she is left abandoned with no Pete, no place to live, and few options. Maggie is then forced to go to the streets for work. More than ten men avoid
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Particularly, "The Open Boat" delves into the grim nature of the natural world in relation to man. Crane writes,"these waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem in small boat navigation" (990). This quote shows nature, specifically the waves, as man's opponent. However, as the story progresses, the men question whether nature is not their antagonist, but rather if it is simply indifferent to man. The men's fate has nothing to do with them which leaves a sense of hopelessness. The story ends with man as nature's "interpreters" rather than nature's adversary furthermore pointing towards man's absent role
Particularly, "The Open Boat" delves into the grim nature of the natural world in relation to man. Crane writes,"these waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem in small boat navigation" (990). This quote shows nature, specifically the waves, as man's opponent. However, as the story progresses, the men question whether nature is not their antagonist, but rather if it is simply indifferent to man. The men's fate has nothing to do with them which leaves a sense of hopelessness. The story ends with man as nature's "interpreters" rather than nature's adversary furthermore pointing towards man's absent role