The Blue Hotel Swede

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince” states “ People have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.” A person must be held accountable for their own actions. A person’s “rose” or their character is shaped by taking responsibility for their mistakes. While the others in the hotel do contribute to the Swede’s death, it is ultimately the Swede who is the main cause of his demise. The Swede’s perception of the changing environment leads him hopelessly to his death. His prediction of being killed elicits the events which result in his death. In Stephen Crane’s “The Blue Hotel”, the Swede’s death is inevitable due to his fear of the West, the acceptance of Scully’s drink, and his aura of misleading authority.
The Swede’s belief that he would get killed prompts him to act strangely, leading the other men to believe his …show more content…
The events in the story slowly unravel, foreshadowing the Swede’s death, yet he is oblivious to this fact. The snow turning the color of blood, or the red light outside the saloon hint at the Swede’s outcome. However, these signs of death do not impact the Swede, as he is oblivious to what the other men in the hotel can see. By initially believing that he would get killed, the Swede provokes a strong reaction from the others which only leads to an increase of his own fear. However, drinking the whiskey instantly changes the Swede’s behavior. This causes him to believe that he would not be harmed, but gambles his life on this perception. He realizes his mistake too late. The Swede ultimately dies because of his inadequate perception of the West. He is afraid of being killed in the hotel, a safe place, but risks his life in the saloon, which ends his