The Open Boatの意味するもの
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概要
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The Open Boat is a story which was written based on Stephen Crane's own experience. We know his Western journey and his experiences in wars are important factors in relation to major elements of his literature. This implies that he himself experienced scenes of struggle between man and nature. As a result we know how important a subject the conflict between man and nature is in his art. First I survey the fact that the story was written based on his own experience, and secondly discuss the relationship between man and nature and ask what the criterion is for enjoying life in his plight. Finally I discuss what lesson he was able to learn from his "long journey." 1) I compare The Open Boat and Stephen Crane's Own Story, an article which Crane reported in the New York Press, and I suggest that the story was written based on his own experience on the Commodore. Particularly I observe that the "seven men" in Own Story and the "seven mads gods" in The Open Boat are on the same level. That is even if they are called gods in the story, they are not gods in the sense of the Bible. I think they are gods grasped in relation to the seven men on the Commodore. Here it is recognized that the story was written based on fact. 2) I survey the relationship between man and nature in the story. Some critics say the story is essentially deterministic, but I don't think so. I think Crane demonstrates the overwhelming power of nature and the power of man's will against it at the same time. Knowing that nature in the story is "nature in the vision of men, " we realize that it is not a metaphisical understanding which governs "nature in the vision of men." When characters bid defiance to this visible nature, as far as they are concerned about" indifferent, flatly indifferent" nature, it is grasped as something hostile in the vision of men and as an object which they are allowed to challenge. 3) When we consider the death of the oiler, and the life of the captain, the cook and the correspondent, we can see a distinction in their ways of life. The correspondent recognizes that comradeship is the best experience of life. When we read following passage, we realize, as the captain, the cook and the correspondent hold on to a part of the boat, their bonds of comradeship, which the oiler rejects. "The oiler was ahead in the race. He was swimming strongly and rapidly. Off to the correspondent's left, cook's great white and corked back bulged out of the water ; and in the rear the captain was hanging with his one good hand to the keel of the overturned dinghy." Three men could reach the coast of life because they did not abandon their comradeship, while the oiler dies finally because he forgot a lesson of comradeship which he might have learned in the open boat. 4) The phrase "the history of life in an open boat for thirty hours" suggests, I think, Crane's chequered life. In face of death he was ashamed that he had not made clear a distinction between right and wrong in the past, and if he were given another opportunity he would mend his way of life. In this sense I conclude that The Open Boat is a story of his life.
- 帯広畜産大学の論文
- 1973-03-30
著者
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- The Open Boatの意味するもの