Paper on The Blue Hotel - Essay Example

English February 21, The Blue Hotel The important theme of the story, “The Blue Hotel” depicts the attitude towards life of the main character, Swede. Attitude of a man consists of several factors. One’s social disposition depends upon one’s attitude and the attitude is governed by the societal response to the expectations of the concerned individual. A particular theme may be dominant in a story, but it cannot be discussed in isolation. It is irrevocably linked to other themes and they will exercise their impact on the core theme of the story. In this story by Stephen Crane the theme of conflicts scores over other themes. The conflicts relate to Swede and societal reaction to his self-destructive individuality. The detailing of the theme reveals how Crane challenged such situations. Let’s take the example of Swede’s disposition to life. He strongly feels that everyone in the Blue Hotel wants to kill him. His fear is unfounded and no backgrounder information is provided or logic is given for the lurking fear in his mind. This indicates that conflict is the inherent part of his personality and that is the reason for him to surmise that those in the hotel are angry with him and they want to kill him. Even if it is assumed that he is paranoid being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, why the thought of killing only should float in his mind. This indicates the basic self-destructive behavior of Swede. Next, Swede picks up a fight with Johnny. The first phase of violence doesn’t produce any tangible results, and his second bout of aggression after he defeats Johnny in the fight, takes him to death. In a fight this time with a gambler, Swede is stabbed to death. This is a pointer, according to Crane, the things to happen when humankind as a whole takes to self-destruction, inviting disaster that will ultimately lead to total annihilation of the human race itself. Nature will not target human race alone in isolation for destruction. Plant and animal kingdoms also will perish to a great extent. The author of any novel/story, howsoever intelligently may try to sweep under the carpet events related to his life, will reveal something about one’s own psychology and attitudes to life, through the dialogues, and actions of his characters. This is true of Stephen Crane (1871-1900). He died at the age of 28 and thus he belongs to the younger generation, which is combustible. The grinding poverty he suffered all through his adult life and his poor standard of living has something to do with his arrogant social disposition. Added to the problem, he had a poor health record, suffered from tuberculosis, and contacted malaria and failed to take proper care of himself. Not caring for one’s health is again an act of self-destruction and that attitude has to find expression is his literary works and the same has happened in this story through the character of Swede. Did he feel isolated from the society and his surroundings? It must be so as reflected in his disposition. He acted like a rebel against all the established societal norms while interacting in a group. Swede seems to have the permanent grudge against the society and it is revealed in his small and big actions, right from his induction into the plot of the story. That grudge is the root-cause of his self-destructive behaviour. The group referred to in the Blue Hotel is a miniature model of the society and Swede picks up serious quarrels with those present there on one issue or the other. He creates issues out of no issues. He seems to have formed certain fixed negative opinions about the society. The reasons could be his upbringing and the adverse circumstances that he had to face early on in life. Nature seems to read the dormant agitations in his mind and as he arrives at the Palace Hotel along with two others, a blizzard develops and everyone stands isolated at the hotel. In the blizzard normal vision is impaired, one cannot see the surroundings properly, and Crane has used the symbol of blizzard to depict the intense, suppressed agitation brewing in the mind of the Swede. His inner turmoil begins to find the outlets through verbal slangs; he begins to make loud, unconnected pronouncements during the card game, and expresses his apprehension that many good men must have been killed in this room. He continues with his ranting all through the game and brags that he is going to be killed before the day is over. This is the forthright example of his self-destructive nature, the expression of least regard for his own life and don’t-care attitude. Others try to downplay his aversions and ignore him. One drop is sufficient to test the sugar level in the blood of the entire human body. Similarly with one incident the nature of an individual can be assessed fairly accurate. Swede gives testimony through a series of incidents in quick succession and Patrick Scully, the owner of the hotel and a good businessman tries to sooth the tempers of Swede, in tandem with the business principle that the customer is always right (also referred to as ‘the customer is the king’.) The break for dinner, and the resultant interval, instead of calming the agitation in the mind of Swede, he is surcharged with more aggression, speaks much, interrupts the game to say bizarre things. He accuses Johnnie of cheating and a physical fight ensues between the two and Swede wins the fight. But his aggressive behaviour has taken hold of him; he goes to downtown and enters into arguments with the patrons of the town bar again, which indicates his emotional instability. Even the win in the fight failed to check his egoistic and reckless attitude with the people. In support of the theme of conflict I quote the following extracts with the relevant explanations. The conflict concept is ingrained in the personality of Swede. As soon as the three passengers got down from the train Scully’s observation of Swede, as described Crane: “One was a shaky and quick-eyed Swede, with a great shining cheap valise; …” (I) In the hotel room: “The Swede said nothing. He seemed to be occupied in making furtive estimates of each man in the room. One might have thought that he had the sense of silly suspicion which comes to guilt. He resembled a badly frightened man……His eyes continued to rove from man to man.”(I) When he was invited for the game of cards at the hotel: “He strode towards the men nervously, as if he expected to be assaulted. On sitting, he gazed from face to face and laughed shrilly. This laugh was so strange that the Easterner looked up quickly, the cowboy sat intent and with his mouth open, and Johnnie paused, holding the cards with still lingers.”(II) In the course of the card game “the Swede suddenly addressed Johnnie: I suppose there have been a good many men killed in this room." (II) "Gentlemen," he quavered, "I suppose I am going to be killed before I can leave this house! I suppose I am going to be killed before I can leave this house!" In his eyes was the dying-swan look.”(II) "I know I won't get out of here alive." (II) In the course of the second cards game: "Yes, fight," roared the Swede. He was like a demoniac. "Yes, fight! I'll show you what kind of a man I am! I'll show you who you want to fight! Maybe you think I can't fight! Maybe you think I can't! I'll show you, you skin, you card-sharp! Yes, you cheated! You cheated! You cheated!"(V) Before Swede was killed by the gambler: “What! You won't drink with me, you little dude? I'll make you then! I'll make you!" The Swede had grasped the gambler frenziedly at the throat, and was dragging him from his chair. (VIII) Work Cited Crane, Stephen. The Blue Hotel (Short Story) www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/42490/ English.Accessed on February 21, 2012 Read More