"The Open Boat"

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane, an American writer accredited with having had a decisive contribution to the evolution of the realistic prose in the late 18th century. The paper further analyzes how one can use Marxist theory to better understand the complexity of "The Open Boat". The paper examines how Marxist theorists argue that that the meaning of all events can be determined only by fully circumscribing them to a historical reality and placing them in the context of a wider system of evolution.

From the Paper:

"Therefore, the Marxist literary analysis considers tensions and conflicts arising from the interactions of the actors. The subsequent interpretation is one that must go beyond the actual literary text, as it is considered that every action is determined at one level by the influence of historical, social and economic circumstances. The perspective must take into consideration the latent tensions as well and develop on the hidden possible outbursts of violence (The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 1985). In the case of "The open boat", the tensions lay between man and nature, as he implacably realizes his lack of significance for the wider system of the world."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Carter, A. B. (1988). Marx. A radical critique. Brighton, Sussex : Wheatheaf Books.
• Crane, S.(2001). The Open Boat. Rtrieved March 17, 2006 from Litrix reading Room Web Site: http://www.litrix.com/openboat/oboat001.htm.
• Dunleavy, P.& O'Leary, B. (1987). Theories of the state: the politics of liberal democracies. London: The Macmillan Press.
• Kitching, G. (1988). Karl Marx and the philosophy of praxis. London &New York: Routledge .
• Marxism. (2001). In The Norton anthology of theory and criticism . New York. London : W. W. Norton .

More papers on "The Open Boat":

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• Analytical Essay # 9310 : "The Open Boat"

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