Journal entry# 26 Stephen Crane

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 22, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

None of them knew the color of the sky… and all of the men knew the colors of the sea.

Summary:

It is found in the introduction of “The Open Boat” which is written by Stephen Crane.

Response:

In the story, there are four characters, the captain, the cook, the oiler, and the correspondent. When I first read this sentence that none of them on the floating boats were able to know “the color of the sky”, I was a bit confused. How come these characters on the floating boat were unable to tell the color of the sky? After listening to the lecture and reading the story once again, I realized that this quote is not that simple and there is actually a deeper meaning behind. The reason for them not to be able to know the color of the sky is actually due to the extremely poor situation on the sea. The “waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall” which blocks their visions towards the sky(Norton 1000). It is easy to notice that the waves are really terribly tall. Moreover, the storms and the dark clouds in the sky also make them not to be able to see the true color of the sky.In the second part of the quote, it shows that “all of the men knew the colors of the sea”. Since they are all trying to survive in the sea, they actually don’t have time to look at other things, but only the sea. For example, the captain has to always focus on the direction while the other people need to row the boat in order to find a safety place. That’s why all of them only knew “the colors of the sea”, but did not know the colors of the sky.

Moreover, they are only on a small dinghy, it is so difficult for them to distinguish between he sky and the sea. Indeed, from their visions, the color of the sky has no difference with that of the sea due to the similar color. However, the sea water is more tangible to them. Therefore, Stephen Crane chooses to say that they can see the color of the sea, but not the color of the sky.