Brotherhood in Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat"?

Question

Do the characters develop a sense of brotherhood. If so will it be temporary or permanent

Answer 1

They absolutely do - as anyone who has ever tried to row a boat with another person can understand. The key here is the correspondent who is described as someone who has developed a distrust for people. He has seen a lot of things and as a reporter, he has kind of trained himself to view them impartially and not become involved. Crane discusses that when he talks about the correspondent seeing the dead soldier in Algiers. However, now his basic survival depends on him becoming involved with people. He has to take orders from the captain. He has to take turns rowing with the oilman. Eventually when the boat becomes too heavy, they take turns holding on from the water. It's basic survival now and the only way it works is by them developing a brotherhood and working as a team. I dont think it will be permenent - the correspondent will go his own way - back to reporting. However I think that he will take with him a new view of people - an empathy which will make him a better correspondent. Pax - C.

Answer 2

Temporary.

It is sort of classic that a group of people are thrown together by some terrible tragedy or circumstance, but unless there is something beyond that one day or hour, there is no common bond that will make it permanent.

The Open Boat is a terrific story. I always liked it. It reminded me of the movie "stagecoach" or the movie "The Open Boat" which is a bit different. It's all about people being together and having to work to survive.

They went down together, but how much else do they have in common? My guess is little.