Introduction
This paper provides a comprehensive discussion of the ending of the “The open boat” and “To build a fire". The discussion is made with reference to naturalism. It is pertinent to note that both pieces have significant elements of naturalism. The paper incorporates concrete references to the stories to anchor that argument on the techniques used within them. The aspects of mood, narrative style as well as the characters used in the stories are reviewed in the discussion.
Crane uses a range of aspects of literary naturalism in the story to emphasize the message being portrayed. The struggles of the oiler and the correspondent are pertinent points of reference. The emphasis placed on the environment over the human characters is evident. The author presents the environment as disorderly and uncaring. Crane provides an insight to the implications of the disorder of the universe through different techniques. In the story, it is mentioned that the sea is relentless indicating a state of confusion. This state of confusion results to the uncomfortable sailing of boats and disorientation of the sea men. The implications of a single wave are portrayed to be devastating and can result to death if caution is not taken. In spite of the circumstances that men find themselves in the lifeboat, the waves are unforgiving and continue to go past them in a sequential manner.
However, it is human nature to seek comfort from their surroundings. The elaboration of a bird above a captain’s head is a manifestation of this perception. The bird’s actions were interpreted to be a symbol of apprehension in the sea. The absence of order in the universe is also elaborated through the disregard of the efforts the men on the life boat face. After toiling hard to get to safe palace the men in the lifeboat fail to attain their goal. They feel that this was an unfair treatment of nature. According to them their efforts were worth making to land safely but nature was against them, and the waves kept them away from the shores. The short story is providing a rich ground for different techniques of naturalism. The eminent use of imagery and symbolism in the story like in the instance where the bird was flapping around the captains head is a key aspect.
At the ending of the story, the aspect of human trials and tribulations is brought into focus. Their struggles at sea are presented to being opposed by natural forces. It is pertinent to note that, as the Oiler is able to swim ahead of the pack and it is his strength and physical abilities that enhance his struggles. However, his unfortunate and does not make it to the shore. This is a manifestation of the unfair nature of the environment. This raises the question of the place of the strong in the universe as well as the conspiracy of nature to harm the strong. On the other hand, the correspondent is faced by numerous challenges during the struggle. At some point, he is trapped by a current that derails him from the struggle to the shores. However, his struggle bears fruit, and he makes it to the shore to get assistance.
In the short story Jack London, uses different elements of realism to depict the environment, as well as, social conditions. The author implies that the daily struggles of a man are instrumental in defining their character in the future. Moreover, they heredity as well as the environment they are exposed to has eminent implications. The second accident described in the short story is depicted as a personal mistake. It is pertinent to note that naturalism assumes that man has no free will. Moreover, the moral responsibility mounted on an individual due to certain occurrences is enormous. An anticipation of the consequences of every decision and action taken should be put into consideration be everyone. The struggles of man are instrumental in depicting these responsibilities. When he decides to light a fire under a tree spruce the implications of the fire are his responsibilities. However, the fall on the snow cannot be anticipated, and he should be freed from the consequences and responsibilities.
The fire was lit in a drive to keep him warm, but this came at a cost. In this story, nature is portrayed as unfair and antagonistic. Nature did not reward the man after all his efforts during the struggles.
Comparative analysis
Crane’s naturalism applies motile techniques and portrays different elements of realism. It is pertinent to note that the unfairness of nature is clearly depicted by the sea waves and the death of the strongest of the sea men towards the end of the story. On the other hand, London fails to illustrate multiple techniques in his story. Some of the undoing of nature are not clearly elaborated leaving the reader to draw a conclusion. Moreover, the effectiveness of the elements of naturalism is eminent in cranes story than in London’s.
