Journal 11: Stephen Crane

Stephen Crane, "The Blue Hotel."

"As the men trooped heavily back into the front room, the two little windows presented views of turmoiling sea of snow. The huge arms of the wind were making attempts--mighty, circular, futile--to embrace the flakes as they sped. A gate-posted like a still man with a blanched face stood aghast amid this profligate fury. In a hearty voice Scully announced the presence of a blizzard. The guests of the blue hotel, lighting their pipes, assented with grunts of lazy masculine contentment."

I love the scene described here because it really describes the effects of this overly welcoming, comfortable, and luring environment and how it makes the men who are staying there feel. The windows in this picture allow the men to see the "turmoiling sea of snow" which of course, would make anyone feel more lazy. No one sees a problem or inconvenience up ahead and says "Yay!" as they run right out to meet it. Instead, as we see here, they take it all in with a sigh.

There is no rush to leave the cozy environment which has been intricately developed for their comfort. One quote says, "It was notable that throughout this series of small ceremonies the three travelers were mad to feel that Scully was very benevolent" (928). Scully, the proprietor, makes every attempt to make his guests comfortable and enjoy their stay. The large stove which hums with "god-like violence" provides warmth and comfort. In the background, there are even a couple young girls who prepare their meals while they relax and play cards. No wonder, they begin to have this "lazy masculine contentment" the longer they stay and can compare their cozy environment with the harsh nature which awaits them just outside the windows.

It is so profound and quite subtle the way he does it, to have this picture painted for the reader which casually leaves us feeling somewhat sympathetic for the cowboy who was as much a part of the problems in this story as anyone. Crane demonstrates through these scenes the affects of luring strategy and seduction, comfort, and a sense of being in this peaceful little place in the middle of a storm which nurtures the thoughts and feelings of these men. Then, finally in the end, as the Easterner is going off on his enlightenment concerning each of their roles in a murder, the cowboy just says, "Well I didn't do anythin', did I?" (946). We almost stop to think, well did he know what he was doing? Did he really know the consequences of his subtle suggestions and casual actions? Here, Crane really hits the issue of nature vs. nurture and lends the reader insight to how it can even influence the cowboy (who represents the West, which represents the United States taking over native land, and specifically the dominant white male group which rules). By effecting the cowboy, others are also effected and so on, but not always on purpose.