"The Open Boat" - By Stephen Crane.

In his short story, "The Open Boat," Stephen Crane shows us a universe totally unconcerned with the affairs of human kind; an indifferent world in which Man has to struggle to survive. The characters in the story come face to face with this indifference and are nearly overcome by Nature's lack of concern, yet they succeed through persistence and cooperation. Crane thus asserts that all we have in our constant struggle for survival is stubborn …

…for others. Ultimately a comradeship is born between the characters that goes beyond mere associations and keeps them afloat. "The Open Boat" gives us a dose of reality that seems bitter at first, but gradually brings the characters together and reflects the essence of the human spirit. In the end, the assertion that the Universe will never bend to the will of Man is outweighed by Crane's reassurance that we will always have each other.