The Open Boat Essay Questions

In what ways does "The Open Boat" function as an allegory for the human condition?

Dramatizing the men's literal fight for survival, "The Open Boat" also works as an allegory for humanity's survival amidst a random and uncaring natural world. Through his experience on the boat, the correspondent struggles with his belief system, oscillating between hope and despair. Seeking salvation and comfort, the correspondent addresses his thoughts to the "seven gods" who rule the sea and a personified god of Fate: he would like to believe that cruel Fate would allow him to survive and not allow him to feel hope only to drown later. He even sets his hopes on a distant star, projecting onto the star the powers to protect him. But he later understands that it makes no sense to seek logic in nature, as nature is "flatly indifferent" to whether he lives, dies, or suffers. In the void of a higher power, the correspondent finds comfort in the sense of brotherhood that arises among the men in the boat. The correspondent's changing beliefs reflect humanity's desire to find comfort in the uncertainty of existence.

What is the significance of communication in "The Open Boat"?

Though they are in a dire and distressing situation, the men maintain sanity by adhering to mutually respectful forms of communication. Their steamer has sunk, yet the captain maintains his position as leader of the ship, and the other men follow his directions without complaint. Similarly, Billie's and the oiler's cooperation as the two oarsmen is mirrored in the polite way they speak to each other. Communication also functions to add a sense of levity in the boat: rather than succumbing to despair when they realize no one is coming to rescue them, the men joke that the lighthouse keepers of the country must have terrible eyesight. These different forms of communication work together to ensure the men's survival.

How does the correspondent's attitude toward nature change over the course of "The Open Boat"?

Early in the story, the correspondent does not understand why he would be allowed to struggle for survival long enough to see the shore, only to be drowned in the end. Attributing human characteristics to nature, imagining it has intelligence and power over his fate, he can only conclude that nature is cruel. However, he would like to maintain hope and so convinces himself that his efforts will be rewarded. But by the story's end, the correspondent comes to think of nature as "flatly indifferent." While his fate is shaped by the conditions of nature, he no longer believes that nature is capable of ill will or generosity.