Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #31 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“We picture the world as thick with conquering and elate humanity, but here, with the bugles of the tempest pealing, it was hard to imagine a peopled earth. One viewed the existence of man then as a marvel, and conceded a glamour of wonder to these lice which were caused to cling to a whirling, fire-smote, ice-locked, disease-stricken, space-lost bulb. The conceit of man was explained by this storm to be the very engine of life.”
II. Summary
Stephen Crane made another analogy for both man and planet. He related men as lice, and planet as bulb with difficult living conditions. He regarded that in order for such a comparatively minute living thing to survive in the tough environment, man must have conceit.
III. Response
We can again glimpse from this quote how Stephen Crane comprehended nature and human beings. He regarded nature as an indifferent giant that posted many difficulties for all living things. There were whirlwinds, storms, fire, ice, diseases and overpopulation. After being in one storm, he believed that what made men able to overcome these difficulties to be conceit. Without it, men could not have been successful in this battle.
I agree with his analogy that men are too powerless to change the nature. Despite our advanced technology, one storm can easily destroy our constructions. Not just is there hardly an accurate way for us to predict the arrival of catastrophe, there is not method for us to completely conquer them. All we can do is to minimize the harm and devastation caused.
Yet, in face of nature, I do not think men should be conceited. Indeed, nature teaches us to be humble. Very often human beings regard ourselves as the most intellectual animal on Earth and may take pride in ourselves. Some even think they can assume the power of God. Nevertheless, just one storm can show us that what human beings can do is still limited in face of the powerful nature.
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