The Study of the Major Principles of Naturalism through The Open Boat by Stephen Crane

Abstract

This dissertation studies American literary Naturalism. We seek to show the ways in which Stephen Crane‘s short story The Open Boat is representative of the most salient features of American Naturalism. In fact we seek to show not only the content but also the form are examples of naturalist features. The present work is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter we review the characteristics of Naturalism, through styles and themes of naturalist writers. The second chapter is an over view of American society, its industries, immigration, science, the emergence of the city and Crane’s life and works. The third chapter examines Crane’s language, style, the use of literary devices in the story and the fourth chapter aims at highlighting the most important Naturalistic features present in The Open Boat through its themes and content