Stephen Crane's Maggie

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that, like other novels in the naturalist school of literature, Stephen Crane's "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets", exploits the sufferings of the poor through a gaze that effectively casts a sardonic light on the values of the dominant culture - the American middle class of the 19th century. The writer notes that "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets" was inspired by Crane's forays into the slums of the Bowery. The writer points out that this novel is considered to be the first example of literary naturalism in American fiction. The writer maintains that it remains a valuable - if not sadly forgotten - work that manages to capture a pivotal moment in American culture.

From the Paper:

"If Crane's work was now successful on an international level, it was still the subject of ridicule by the press on home soil. While the reception for 'The Red Badge of Courage' was warm, it was less so for his first collection of poetry, 'The Black Rider and Other Lines'. Crane spent the next few years working as a war correspondent, during the course of which he was shipwrecked on the way to Cuba, an experience he would hearken back to in the form of the well-known short story 'The Open Boat'. In Florida, Crane met Cora Stewart-Taylor, the madam of a Jacksonville brothel with literary aspirations of her own. The two would marry and go off to Europe together, where they worked as correspondents during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. This experience would be used as fodder for Crane's final novel, 'Active Service', completed in 1899."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crane, Stephen. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. San Francisco: Chandler Publishing, 1968.

More papers on Stephen Crane's Maggie:

• Persuasive Essay # 72975 : "Stephen Crane's "Maggie" and Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"
• Analytical Essay # 60950 : "Stephen Crane's Success as a Naturalist"
• Analytical Essay # 65961 : "Stephen Crane's Maggie"
• Analytical Essay # 23456 : "Maggie, Girl of the Streets" by Stephen Crane"

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