Themes: Conflict Between Man and Nature
The overwhelming theme of the story is the conflict between the men and the cold indifference of the sea. The sea, in fact, is a character in its own right, an elemental force, unmindful of the human struggle to survive. The sea, as an analogue to nature, is cruel or sportive, taunting, menacing, or easeful, having no other motive but the exercise of its own power.
Expert Q&A
What are the conflicts and climax of "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane?
The main conflict of "The Open Boat" is man versus nature, which takes form in the men's own exhaustion and the threat of the ocean. The climax occurs when the men decide to swim to shore.
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