The Open Boat

Themes

Jack London, author of "To Build a Fire," grew up in San Francisco in a working-class family. His life experiences encouraged London to write numerous collections of novels leading to his title as one of the most well-known writers of his time. Stephen Crane, also a well-known writer, is the author of "The Open Boat." Crane grew up in New Jersey but traveled from Florida to Germany. London and Crane both had a unique style of writing and interpreting naturalism, "action, inclination, or thought based only on natural desires and instincts" (Merriam-Webster). "The Open Boat" and "To Build a Fire" exemplify the harsh aspects of life through the characters experiences and actions.

To nature both situations are irreverent and her actions are not to help or harm. Be it a wave, a calm night, cold air or frozen solid areas, nature holds no preference or consideration. Nature is what she is, a force to reckon with. In both stories, at the end there is a price to be paid by all. In some instances, as in the case here, it may be with your own life. In "The Open Boat" the oiler who was the physical powerful men he lost the battle, and dies. In 'To Build a Fire" the protagonist freeze to death. Nature actions well not intended to cause death, but to be. It is a game played by man's ignorance and inability to grasp significance.