This is from the point of view of the man on the shore from Stephen Crane's short story The Open Boat. I don't know why, but for some reason I felt compelled to expand off a study of lit exercise. I suppose that's part of the reason they give them to us though!

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to Stephen Crane.


The man had seen a boat. He wasn't sure at first, but now, through the choppy waves and illuminated by the dying sun, he knew he saw it. It was not much bigger than a rowboat and must have been a lifeboat; anyone out for fishing or for pleasure in this weather would have been mad indeed, he thought as he noted the spray of the waves as they crashed upon the rocky sand of the shore before withdrawing and, with another great upheaval, roll into its self and unleash its tremendous force once again. No, the boat's occupants must have been forced into their current predicament; he could tell they were experienced with the sea as they maneuvered their tiny craft in and over the dark, unfaltering waves. They much have been out fighting nature's fury due to unlucky fate.

He barely noticed the other men and women come to join him, nor did he give much heed to the omnibus. These tourists would not be of much help, and he regarded them with disdain, coming to watch, for their own selfish entertainment, the poor souls on the boats' struggle.

The man had lived by this portion of the Florida shoreline his entire life, he knew they would need to try to come to shore here; anywhere else would be foolish. The man removed his coat to signal them, waving it to and fro, very similar to the motion of the much-abused boat. He swung his coat for what seemed like hours, trying to get them to realize this was as good as it was going to get for miles up and down the shore.

He could tell, however, that they did not understand. They made one start for the rocky beach, but turned around. He stood watching them - willing them to comprehend - but they remained within the gray waves until the light faded and he could see no more.

The next day, the man read about an oilers' death not 5 miles from his home. He couldn't help his tears as he read of the death of man he had never really known.


What do you think? Please review even if you haven't read The Open Boat.