The Open Boat & A Streetcar Named Desire
Sain Bainuu Everyone!
We're here again to discuss various topics about The Open Boat by Stephen Crane and to continue reading the play, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Once again we will review the literary elements of realism, naturalism, and regionalism presented in these eloquently written stories.
The Open Boat by Stephen Crane is a short story published in 1897, that tells the tale of four men who
are adrift in a dinghy and desperately trying to reach the shore. Their interactions with each other and their environment create an atmospheric tale of human struggle against an indifferent natural world. The events that occurred in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, was the witnessing of Blanche's past. She reveals the greatest tragedy of her past. Years ago, her young husband committed suicide after she discovered and chastised him for his homosexuality. Mitch describes his own loss of a former love, and he tells Blanche that they need each other. Then there is a tug-a-war between Stanley and Blanche over Stella for her affection and attention. In scene four, Blanche tried to encourage Stella to leave Stanley because of the abuse and expresses that he's quite barbaric, though her sister doesn't listen. Unknowingly, Stanley is listening to this entire conversation and when he enters he acts as if he hasn't heard a thing and smiles at Blanche while hugging his wife.
Realism captures the authentic aspects of human life, as it tries to emphasize the reality and morality for people as well as the society. This form of writing makes the readers face reality as it happens in the world in order to make it believable rather than make-believe. All of the most recognizable elements of Realism are present within the story. In its graphic probing of events and in its objective description of the characters' psychological state, the story successfully presents a realistic sensation of the characters' experience without any of the false heroism or romantic plots that characterized other contemporary fiction. ''The Open Boat'' has no plot in the traditional sense it is almost a mere description of thoughts and events. In fact, since author Stephen Crane actually experienced the events related to the story when he was ship-wrecked with the crew of the Commodore, one might suspect that the story is not fiction at all.
Naturalism is often viewed as a type of extreme realism as it highlights that the idea of environment determines and governs human character. Since its factors include the roles of family, social conditions, and atmosphere that shape someone. Most naturalists are generally concerned with improving the human condition around the world. In The Open Boat, the story portrays the sea as a cruel, uncaring entity. In the small boat, the sailors cannot battle the strong waves and currents of the ocean and get to shore. The story realistically portrays nature as cruel and uncaring, while still sticking to the true events that happened. The Open Boat is about three shipwrecked men stranded in a cramped lifeboat in the unforgiving ocean. These men must battle against hypothermia, sharks, and rough ocean waves and currents until they are rescued.
Naturalism was depicted in the play by incorporating existing social conditions, language and through references to events, personalities, and issues. In A Streetcar Named Desire, this is evident in the backgrounds and demeanors of characters and in the manner of their interactions. Another factor that represents naturalist elements to the play is the use of developing sciences and issues into the story such as Stella 's nervous condition, Stanley 's involvement with the growing violence and vice of the city. Another use of naturalism in the play is seen in the lack of dramatic role reversals among the characters and instead, the characters are portrayed as individuals simply with lives that can go beyond their ability to control them. For instance, Blanche's lack of control over her late husband's sexuality and death as well as the circumstances that she's faced when having to stay with her sister and brother-in-law.
Regionalism refers to texts that concentrate heavily on specific, unique features of a certain region including dialect, customs, tradition, topography, history, and characters. As well as conflict within the community and even stereotypes of the characters. Stephen Crane uses a well-developed knowledge of geography and nature to describe their location and what was happening through the dialogue of the confused characters as they have to slowly and painfully navigate the coast of Cuba to look for help and a landing area. This is seen in how he implements direction, location, and landmarks that eventually guide the four men in the boat to safety.
For psychoanalytic criticism, The Open Boat is exemplary in illustrating the multifarious and deceptive nature of reality. This takes a heavy toll on the men in this predicament, though in the former, an ironic kind of self-awareness is achieved by the correspondent's acceptance of human limitations and absurdity in his condition. This can be considered to be apart of naturalism but Crane's analysis of the particular use of ambiguity and his vision of human perception, which may have drawn the reader's attention to the problem of man's ability to interpret the universe.
A factor that has contributed to the appeal of the play was because of the ease of reference with the audience . The main reason for this is the realism of the characters. Blanche 's situation of having to leave the South was common to the era as economics became an issue in the region. Stella represented common issues regarding rights and independence being raised for women. Stanley represented the stiff challenges of the city which requires aggressiveness and dominance Though the characters are representations of social segments, Williams gave them their individual idiosyncrasies and vulnerabilities which made persons to the audience. As Stanley appears to have a particular connection with his id, which remains infantile in its function throughout a persons life and does not change with time or experience, as it is not in touch with the external world. The id is not affected by reality, logic or the everyday world, as it operates within the unconscious part of the mind. Then Stella has more of her ego, it operates according to the reality principle, working out realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands, often compromising or postponing satisfaction to avoid negative consequences for society. The ego considers social realities and norms, etiquette and rules in deciding how to behave.
This has a clear correlation between Stella and Stanley relationship, which is, as we discussed in the previous blog post that is very unhealthy. Though the novels are quite fascinating to read and I hope to hear everyone's opinions about what I've shared today.
Thank you.
We're here again to discuss various topics about The Open Boat by Stephen Crane and to continue reading the play, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Once again we will review the literary elements of realism, naturalism, and regionalism presented in these eloquently written stories.
The Open Boat by Stephen Crane is a short story published in 1897, that tells the tale of four men who
Realism captures the authentic aspects of human life, as it tries to emphasize the reality and morality for people as well as the society. This form of writing makes the readers face reality as it happens in the world in order to make it believable rather than make-believe. All of the most recognizable elements of Realism are present within the story. In its graphic probing of events and in its objective description of the characters' psychological state, the story successfully presents a realistic sensation of the characters' experience without any of the false heroism or romantic plots that characterized other contemporary fiction. ''The Open Boat'' has no plot in the traditional sense it is almost a mere description of thoughts and events. In fact, since author Stephen Crane actually experienced the events related to the story when he was ship-wrecked with the crew of the Commodore, one might suspect that the story is not fiction at all.
Naturalism is often viewed as a type of extreme realism as it highlights that the idea of environment determines and governs human character. Since its factors include the roles of family, social conditions, and atmosphere that shape someone. Most naturalists are generally concerned with improving the human condition around the world. In The Open Boat, the story portrays the sea as a cruel, uncaring entity. In the small boat, the sailors cannot battle the strong waves and currents of the ocean and get to shore. The story realistically portrays nature as cruel and uncaring, while still sticking to the true events that happened. The Open Boat is about three shipwrecked men stranded in a cramped lifeboat in the unforgiving ocean. These men must battle against hypothermia, sharks, and rough ocean waves and currents until they are rescued.
Regionalism refers to texts that concentrate heavily on specific, unique features of a certain region including dialect, customs, tradition, topography, history, and characters. As well as conflict within the community and even stereotypes of the characters. Stephen Crane uses a well-developed knowledge of geography and nature to describe their location and what was happening through the dialogue of the confused characters as they have to slowly and painfully navigate the coast of Cuba to look for help and a landing area. This is seen in how he implements direction, location, and landmarks that eventually guide the four men in the boat to safety.
For psychoanalytic criticism, The Open Boat is exemplary in illustrating the multifarious and deceptive nature of reality. This takes a heavy toll on the men in this predicament, though in the former, an ironic kind of self-awareness is achieved by the correspondent's acceptance of human limitations and absurdity in his condition. This can be considered to be apart of naturalism but Crane's analysis of the particular use of ambiguity and his vision of human perception, which may have drawn the reader's attention to the problem of man's ability to interpret the universe.
A factor that has contributed to the appeal of the play was because of the ease of reference with the audience . The main reason for this is the realism of the characters. Blanche 's situation of having to leave the South was common to the era as economics became an issue in the region. Stella represented common issues regarding rights and independence being raised for women. Stanley represented the stiff challenges of the city which requires aggressiveness and dominance Though the characters are representations of social segments, Williams gave them their individual idiosyncrasies and vulnerabilities which made persons to the audience. As Stanley appears to have a particular connection with his id, which remains infantile in its function throughout a persons life and does not change with time or experience, as it is not in touch with the external world. The id is not affected by reality, logic or the everyday world, as it operates within the unconscious part of the mind. Then Stella has more of her ego, it operates according to the reality principle, working out realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands, often compromising or postponing satisfaction to avoid negative consequences for society. The ego considers social realities and norms, etiquette and rules in deciding how to behave.
This has a clear correlation between Stella and Stanley relationship, which is, as we discussed in the previous blog post that is very unhealthy. Though the novels are quite fascinating to read and I hope to hear everyone's opinions about what I've shared today.
Thank you.
All Love, Aya
Works Cited: “An Analysis of Realism in the Open Boat by Stephen Crane.” Kibin. |
McLeod, Saul. “ID, Ego, & Superego.” Simply Psychology, 1 Jan. 2016. |
Juan-Navarro, S. “Reading Reality: The Tortuous Path To Perception In Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" and "The Blue Hotel".” Academia.edu
I AGREE WITH YOU. CRANE DOES PUT REGIONALISM AND THE OTHERS TO GOOD USE IN THE OPEN BOAT. THIS IS QUITE OBVIOUS THROUGH THEIR SITUATION. AS YOU SAID, NATURALISM IS SHOWN QUITE NICELY IN THE PLAY THROUGH STANLEY AND HIS OBSESSIVE NEED TO BE ON TOP AND IN CONTROL. HE FEELS AS IF HE NEEDS TO CONSTANTLY ONE-UP BLANCHE SO THAT STELLA WILL STAY WITH HIM. WHEN HE DOES GET SOME INFO ON HER... HE IS NOT SHY ON TELLING THE PEOPLE IT WOULD MOST EFFECT.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you screaming?
DeleteI agree with your claim about realism within the stories. In both stories, more emphasis is put on the characters rather than the plots, especially within "The Open Boat." This makes for vivid description of thoughts. In addition, all events are portrayed realistically. All the events described are plausible and fully have the capacity to occur, because it's realistic.
ReplyDelete