On Stephen Crane 4

Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #30 Stephen Crane

I. Quote

“This tower was a giant… It represented in a degree, to the correspondent, the serenity of nature amid the struggles of the individual – nature in the wind, and nature in the vision of men. She did not seem cruel to him then, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent.”

II. Summary

In Crane’s eyes, nature is indifferent to the misery of men. Being the cause of calamity and beauty, nature determines the fate of men, who are powerless and insignificant compared with this potent giant.

Crane’s attitude is reflected throughout the entire story. Among the team, he was calmer compared with the other three. He continued his job as a spectator even during such a difficult situation during which his life was at risk. He did not cease observing, noting and reflecting upon every detail in the environment. Not just could he remember the details, he could even come up with analogy to explain what he saw and experienced.

III. Response

Crane detached any emotion or feeling from nature. While many people regarded dark clouds as gloomy and starry night as romantic, he did not even think that fierce storm is cruel. Every thing in his eyes belongs to part of nature, which is indifferent as a whole. This way of thinking may be related to his rebellious attitudes towards God. He did not revere God as an all loving, all powerful and all knowing. He just regarded God as a creator. In the same objective way, he analyzed that nature is exactly what it shows us. It does not bear any human characters. Looking at things from a humanistic point of view is not Crane’s way. I regard him as a more scientific and practical writer who does not share the sentimental way of thinking as most other writers.