.
The story depicts the world, mainly the toughest of man, such as the oiler, who is physically and morally the superior of the other members does not survive. Nature is a very dominant force in "The Open Boat-; the four men have to fight together to overcome these forces. Many feel that they became frustrated with nature, however, they were also able to use and learn from nature and the events played out in the story. Nature calls all the shots and makes most of the decisions in this story. Crane writes, "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, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples. Any visible expression of nature would surely be pelleted with his jeers- (Crane 1240). Such a quote would make a person want to find out his or her own reason for existing in a universe. Through it all man comes to know "the pathos of his situation- (1240), and is reminded "as if it is nature's duty to remind him "of his place in the universal scheme.
The virtues of bravery, fortitude and integrity shown by the characters, possess no meaning in a universe that denies the importance of man. This story objectively shows the absurdity that belongs to any encounter amongst death. It takes over a man's thoughts, feelings and brings the world to know of man's existence (151). Crane's purpose in placing these men in the dingy is to possibly answer the main question asked throughout the story,.
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?.
Was I brought here merely to have my nose dragged away as.
I was about to nibble the sacred cheese of life? (1237).
William Bysshe Stein suggests that, "man cannot constrict a rational, picture of the world out of his own experience.
