University of Texas Press
"The Blue Hotel" and the Ideal of Human Courage
Author(s): DONALD B. GIBSON
Source: Texas Studies in Literature and Language, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Autumn 1964), pp. 388-397
Published by: University of Texas Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40753827 .
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DONALD B. GIBSON
"The Blue Hotel" and theIdeal ofHuman Courage
THOUGH "THE BLUE HOTEL"
HAS BEEN ACCOUNTED ONE OF THE BEST
has
thingsthatStephenCrane did, themeaningof thatperformance
been as variouslyinterpreted
as the meaningof The Red Badge. A
numberof criticshave seenthetale as havingas itscentralthemethe
seems
brotherhood
ofman: againsta universe
whichin itsindifference
man can onlymaintainorderand meaningin
hostileand malevolent,
as a linkin "the
his lifeif he recognizesand fulfills
his responsibility
chain
of
Somehave seenthetale as meaningwe
humanity."
magnetic
are determined
thatthecomplexity
ofhumanbehavioris so
creatures,
that
greatand our knowledgeof whatgoeson aroundus so imperfect
we have no controloverourdestinies
whenwe are involvedwithother
humanbeings.If the formerstatement
is the theme,thenwe are all
for
and
each
If
thenno oneisresponsible.
to
other.
the
latter,
responsible
Needlessto say,thesetwopossibilities
Yet thereseems
are antithetical.
to be in thestoryevidencesufficiently
to
demonstrate
to nearly
strong
all criticsthe truthof one of thesepropositions.
The bestsupportof
istobe foundintheconclusion.
eitherposition
Let us assumeforthetimebeingthatthestoryintendsto pointout
thatwe are determined
victimsof an inexorablenecessity,
creatures,
no
control
over
our
fates.
Whathappenswhenwe examine
exercising
neartheend ofthestory?
thefamousspeechoftheEasterner
We are all in it! This poorgamblerisn'tevena noun.He is a kindof
adverb.Everysin is the resultof a collaboration.
We, fiveof us, have
ofthisSwede.Usuallythereare froma dozen
in themurder
collaborated
to forty
womenreallyinvolved
inevery
butin thiscaseitseemsto
murder,
old Scully;and thatfoolof an unbe onlyfivemen- you,I, Johnnie,
the apex of a human
fortunate
gamblercamemerelyas a culmination,
andgetsall thepunishment.
movement
thegamblerto a partof a syntactical
The analogylikening
structure,
basic
word ratherthan to a word determining
and to a modifying
a
or
that
like
control
noun
the
had
little
verb,
gambler
suggests
meaning,
overhis fateand theSwede evenless.As an adverbhe is meaningless
untilhe becomesattachedto someverb,adjective,or otheradverb
It is quiteclearin retrospect
thathad
whichwillallowhima function.
thenthegamblermostlikely
theeventsat thehoteloccurreddifferently,
"TheBlueHotel"andtheIdeal ofHumanCourtge 389
wouldnot have been intimidated
by the Swede and wouldnot have
no controloverwhathappened
killedhim.The gamblerhad absolutely
as a culmination,
theapexof
at thehoteland inthissensecame"merely
and gotall thepunishment."
The Swedediesbea humanmovement
Had he chosento grab
cause of hislimitedand imperfect
knowledge.
but
the
he
wouldnothavebeen
the
table
man
at
gambler, probably
any
It wouldseem,as one critichas so ablyput it,thatCrane
murdered.
shownthatmen'swillsdo notcontroltheirdestinies."1
"has absolutely
But whathappensif we look at thelast sectionfromthepointof
involvviewofone whowouldsee themeaningofthetaleas primarily
that
it
obvious
man
theme?
First
of
all
of
is
brotherhood
the
quite
ing
that
all
intends
to
intentions
the
Easterner
of
Crane's
say
regardless
forevil,thatfacedbya universe
mensharetheburdenofresponsibility
of his
whichhas no regardforhim,man mustrecognizethenecessity
withothermen.Seen fromthisvantagepoint,theEastinvolvement
"The Swedemightnothavebeenkilledifeverything
erner'sstatement,
out difoftheactionturning
had beensquare,"impliesthepossibility
further
fromthewayitdid.WhentheEasterner
says,"Johnnie
ferently
to standup and be a man.
was cheating.I saw him.. . . And I refused
I let theSwedefightit out alone.And you- youweresimplypuffing
aroundtheplace and wantingto fight.And thenold Scullyhimself!
to pointoutthe
We are all in it!" he meanstheindicateresponsibility,
and
whose
that
the
clear
here
It
is
also
cowboy,
experience
quite
guilty.
is intendedto presentthelesssatisfactory
are quitelimited,
sensibilities
thelastscene.He failscompointofviewtowardtheeventspreceding
about
Easterner's
statement
of
the
the
to
pletely comprehend meaning
the
of
Swede.
men
in
the
of thefive
murder
the complicity
"Well, I
did I?" he asksnaively.It seemsclearenoughthat
didn'tdo anythin',
ofwhatthe
theanswertothecowboy'squestionwouldbe a restatement
towardeach
has said already,thatmenhave responsibility
Easterner
ofman.
other;hencethethemeofthebrotherhood
action
thepreceding
statements
NowiftheEasterner's
truly
interpret
toward
of humanbeingsactingresponsibly
thenecessity
as indicating
each otherand ifone feelsthatthestoryshows"thatmen'swilldo not
mustbe made
thensomekindof adjustment
controltheirdestinies,"
One
are
since
alternatives
exclusive.
two
the
between
mutually
they
comthe
Easterner's
is
with
the
problem bydiscounting
wayofdealing
to do because
Thisto meseemsimpossible
mentsat theendofthestory.
betweenthe
I detectnothingtherewhichwould indicatea disparity
One anxious
and Crane'sattitudes.
attitudes
bytheEasterner
expressed
1 Charles C. Walcutt, American Literary Naturalism: A Divided Stream
(Minneapolis,1956), p. 75.
390
DONALD B. GIBSON
criticgoesso faras to saythat"theEasterner's
speechis swellingwith
seems
to
me
erroneous
and
half-truth."2
This
an entirely
self-importance
a
far
thanit
last
more
the
of
section, readingcreating
problems
reading
solvesbecausewe have thento deal withthecowboy'sreactionto the
Crane'sattitudeis notthesameas the
Easterner's
speechand certainly
is
to
the
There
no
reason
interprets
cowboy's.
suspectthattheEasterner
precedingeventswrongly.
Anotherway of "proving"thatthe themeof the storyis not the
the finalsectionas being"tacked
themeis by dismissing
brotherhood
thattheconclusionis "tackedon"
on." The inadequacyofthetheory
becomesimmediately
apparentwhenwe considertheextentto whichit
it was neceshas been preparedforbytheprecedingaction.Certainly
intention
whatever
that
was
were
to
be
that
if
Crane's
fulfilled,
sary,
the readerknowthatJohnniehad in factcheatedin the card game.
to learnthis,it is nota shockifwe remember
Thoughwe are surprised
to thehotelwith
thatat thebeginning
ofthestory,
whenScullyreturns
the new guests,Johnnieis playingcardswitha farmer.The twoare
when theyare playingHigh-Five,the
arguing.Shortlyafterwards
theplay
gamebeingplayedlaterwhenJohnnieis accusedof cheating,
is again stoppedby an argument:"The playofJohnnieand thegraybeardwas suddenlyendedbyanotherquarrel.The old manarosewhile
He slowlybuttonedhis
castinga lookofheatedscornat hisadversary.
fromtheroom."We do not
coat,and thenstalkedwithfabulousdignity
knowwhatthetwoare arguingabout,butit is notdifficult
to imagine
thatthefarmerhad seenJohnniecheat,but,knowingthecode ofthe
West,didnotdareaccusehimdirectly.
It oughtalso be consideredthatthe characterof the Easterneris
such thathe mightverywellkeep silentabout seeingJohnniecheat.
He is a meekman. It is he whois mostaffected
bythecold,and itis he
and theSwede.He is
toprevent
thefight
betweenJohnnie
whoattempts
the least outspokenamongthe men in the story,and he is the least
movedby the curiousresponsesof the Swede .His primary
strongly
ofanykind.Too, he is shownto
seemsto be to avoidconflict
intention
it
that
individual
be a sensitive
enough
mightindeedoccurto himthat
fortheoutcomeofthe
he and theothersare to somedegreeresponsible
centralactionofthetale.
are havingtheircakeand eatingit
Thosewhodismisstheconclusion
toobecausepriorto thelastsectionthereis littleto suggest
determinism,
These criticshave
or that"men'swillsdo notcontroltheirdestinies."
of thelast section.The error
takenone of thepossibleinterpretations
2 Stanley Greenfield."The UnmistakableStephen Crane," PMLA, LXIII
(December, 1958), 562-572.
"The Blue Hotel" and theIdeal ofHuman Courage
39 1
to see in Crane's
comesaboutas a resultof our too greatwillingness
whichreallyisn'tthere.His writingis as
worka kindof consistency
insomeofhis
be. Becausewe seedeterminism
variedas itcouldpossibly
he did. He
earlierworkwe shouldnotexpectto findit in everything
workedthisproblemoutin Maggieand The Red Badge and neverrewhohaveseenfitto givesupportto the
turnedto itagain.Thosecritics
Hotel"
showsthatmendo notcontroltheir
that
Blue
"The
assumption
destinies
havelittlemorethantheweatherto pointto as proofoftheir
that sincethe weatherservesas such a
claim.They feelapparently
men's
forceon the activitiesof men that it determines
constricting
them.The onlyothersupportforthisposiactionsratherthanlimiting
sectionis thefactthatthereexistsa causal
tionpriorto theconcluding
relationbetweenwhathappenedat thehoteland the Swede'sdeath.
But
inevitable.
It wouldseemthatthemurderwas an act ofnecessity,
is thisreallysayinganymorethanthatin fiction
plotusuallyproceeds
Is it nottruethatin everyworthwhile
fromcharacter?
pieceoffiction
and event?
thatthereis a causalrelationbetweencharacter
everwritten
In thesamemannerthatwe can showthattheSwede'sdeathoccurs
is deterministic.
But this
we can showthatmostfiction
outofnecessity
whichintendto prove
thanare thosearguments
is no moresatisfactory
creatures.
thatweinlifearedetermined
themeis developedduringthe
the
brotherhood
On theotherhand
fromthe Easterner's
but in a way different
courseof the narrative,
of the meaningof what has occurred.The Easterner
interpretation
thateach of us shouldbe his brother's
keeper,yetthe story
suggests
an
solutionifwe mean
not
in
itself
view
is
that
that
adequate
implies
would
have
solution"
whatever
preventedthe Swede's
by "adequate
to protectthe
death.Scullydoesall withintherangeofhispossibilities
between
himand the
his
to
conflict
to
alleviate
fears, prevent
Swede,
occursand the Swede is eventually
murothermen.Yet the conflict
dered.Even afterthe Swede has had a drinkand becomesmostobfortheSwede's
noxiousScullyadmitsbyhismanner"hisresponsibility
newviewpoint."It is onlywhenScullyis exasperated
beyondhis endurancethathe turnsagainsttheSwede.Beforethatpointhisintentions
are
havebeentheverybest,and he actsas wellas one whoseintentions
his
of knowledge.
goodcan actgiventhelimitations
sectionthebrotherhood
themeis
Up to thepointof theconcluding
manner.Thougha readermightconclude
developedina kindofobverse
thenecessity
ofmutual
priorto thatsectionthatmenshouldrecognize
he is notlikelyto see,as theEasterner
sees,that"we are
involvement,
forthe Swede'sdeathis a social reall in it," thattheresponsibility
the
involvedin the
beyond
extending
groupimmediately
sponsibility
392
DONALD B. GD3SON
circumstancesleading up to the event. Up to the finalsection Crane's
for his
attitudetoward him leads us to believe that the responsibility
death restswith the Swede alone; we are then shown the otherside of
the coin when the complicityof the others is revealed, especially of
Johnnieand the Easterner.
The tone of the firsteightsectionsindicatesthat Crane has verylittle
sympathyforthe Swede. Whereas his attitudetoward Henry Fleming
is at least ambivalent,his attitudetoward the Swede is untemperedby
any charitablefeeling.As readersour attitudetowardthe Swede is likely
to be the same as Crane's. We are led by Crane to judge the Swede
negativelybecause he exhibitsno redeemingqualities. His view of his
situationand of otherpeople is completelydistorted,his reactionsodd
and perverse.Until he takes the firstdrinkof whiskey,he, likeso many
of Crane's othercharacters,is entirelyat the mercyof his own distorted
view of himselfand hissurroundings.Such a fearfulpersonas he cannot
functionin the world even moderatelywell. Afterthe drinkof whiskey
in Scully's upstairsroom,his bravado is proportionatelyas great as his
fearhad been before.And likethatfear,it too is foundedon a distortion
of reality.Not only is his courage false courage, a temporarycourage
which will last only as long as his inebriation,but it also is dependent
upon his erroneousnotionthat he has risensuperiorto the situationhe
saw in the beginning,that he has come to manipulate those who only
moments before intended to murder him. Distortion becomes compounded upon distortion.In his cups he becomes totallyobnoxious,
intimidatingeveryone,and revealingrudeness,crudity,vulgarity,and
crueltyso great as to rendersympatheticjudgment of him extremely
ifnotimpossible.
difficult
In orderto arriveat a statementof theme of "The Blue Hotel" it is
of mankind,
necessaryto determinewhetherthe Swede is representative
forif he is, thisstoryis a more bitterlysatiricalindictmentof man than
has heretoforebeen recognized.There are two places in the textimplying that he is. One is the famous passage in the eighthsectionof the
story:
He mighthave been in a desertedvillage. We picturethe worldas thick
with conqueringand elate humanity,but here, with the bugles of the
tempestpealing,it was hard to imaginea peopled earth.One viewedthe
existenceof man thenas a marvel,and conceded a glamorof wonderto
theselice whichwerecaused to clingto a whirling,
fire-smitten,
ice-locked,
disease-stricken,
space-lostbulb. The conceitof man was explainedby this
stormto be the veryengineof life.One was a coxcombnot to die in it.
However,theSwedefounda saloon.
"The Blue Hotel" and theIdeal ofHuman Courage
393
The wholepassageis a comment
on theSwedeand a further
manifestationoftheauthor'snegativeattitude
towardhim.The ironyis intended
to displaythe degreeto whichtheSwede'simageof himself
is out of
touchwiththingsas theyare.Butthefeeling
towardtheSwede
directed
himwitha conceitand
spillsoverontomankindas a whole,endowing
a blindness
to
those
of
two
the
The
levelsofmeaninghere
Swede.
equal
inthispassageare at odds.WhenCranesays,"One was a coxcombnot
to die in it,"he meansboththatone who has separatedhimself
from
mankindand attempts
to facealonetheuniverse
suchas it is has little
chanceof survival(compareHarryMorgan'sstatement
in To Have
and Have Not,3.man alonehas littlechance),and thatmenare fools
to attempt
to survivein an indifferent
The former
statement
universe.
is supported
by whathas gonebefore,thelatterisn't.What has gone
beforesuggests
thatman'ssurvivaldependsnoton conceit,but on his
involvement
in thehumancommunity.
The passageis an outstanding
bit of nihilistic
rhetoric
whichunfortunately
interferes
withthe focus
ofthestory.
The otherpassageimplying
ofmanthattheSwedeis representative
shouldbe seenas theproblems
kindand thathisproblems
in generalof
mankinddescribes
thestabbingoftheSwedebythegambler:"There
was a greattumult,and thenwas seena longblade in thehand ofthe
and a humanbody,thiscitadelof virtue,
gambler.It shotforward,
was
wisdom,power,
piercedas easilyas if it had been a melon."It is
notonlytheSwede'sbodywhichisseenironically
as a "citadelofvirtue,
wisdom,power,"but any humanbodyis subjectto the ironyof the
is notsupported
bywhathas heretopassage.Againthegeneralization
wouldbe justified
foreoccurred.The statement
wereit applicableonly
totheSwede,whosefalseand distorted
has causedhim
imageofhimself
to feelas thoughhe werea superiorperson.But as it is, the central
eventsofthetalehavenotindicatedthatmeningeneralhavea similarly
distorted
the
imageofself.The lastlineofthesection,"This registers
amountofyourpurchase,"mustcertainly
referonlyto theSwede,for
hisdemisehas occurredlargelybecauseof his character.In thisstory
hostilefeelings
Cranedesiresto expressnegative,
towardmankind,
but
theseemergeonlyat specificpointsin thetale and are notintegrated
withintheplot.He associatesthesevenomousfeelings
withtheSwede
mostin thestory,
becausehe is thepersonCranedislikes
butsincethe
to
Swedehas problems
different
from
theproblems
of
peculiar himself,
sincehe standsso muchapartin hisindividuanyoneelsein thestory,
to
ality,we have no reason,so faras achievedcontentis concerned,
ofmankind.
himrepresentative
consider
394
DONALD B. GIBSON
of "The Blue Hotel" tracesthedevelopment
The centralmovement
and eventualoutcomeof the Swede's isolationfromothermen,his
retreataway fromthe worldinto a worldof his own imagining,a
to be one whomanipulates
hisenvironworldin whichhe feelshimself
the
mentratherthanone manipulatedbyit. Fromtheverybeginning
oftheSwedeto hissituation
ratherbizarrereactions
sethimapartfrom
theothermenin thehotel.His shrill,nearlyhysterical
laughterbegins
inthefaceoftheaberrant
to unitetheotherswiththebondofnormalcy
hostileresponse
from
behavioroftheSwede.He evokesan increasingly
unableto cope withthe
Johnnieand thecowboy,whofindthemselves
situation.
externaleventsin thelightofhis
At everyturntheSwedeinterprets
notionof what the West and Westerners
are like.The
preconceived
in
and
the
can
be
a signthat
Johnnie
cowboy
only
hostility
engendered
to
kill
him.
refusal
to
intend
Easterner's
the
situation
as he
The
see
they
is partoftheconspiracy
seesitcan onlymeanthattheEasterner
against
him.When Scullyfollowshimupstairsto his room,appearingat the
doorwithhisfacelightened
he
and enshadowedbythelamphe carries,
like
a
to
the
himself
Swede
murderer.
Mistakenly
considering
appears
alone and an outcastfromthesocietyofmen,he indeedbecomesjust
that,creatinga worldin whichhe is powerlessand a victimof the
of others.Nothingthe patientScullycan do or say can
machinations
shaketheSwede'sfixedidea.
Afterthe Swede has takenthe firstdrinkfromScully,he becomes
intoxicatedwithdrinkand withpower,feelingthathe is at last in
situation.
It is notthathe seestheotherstruly,
controlofthethreatening
thathe seestheydo notintendto murderhim;ratherhe feelsin control
But by his overbearingness
of thesepotentialmurderers.
and aggresto isolatehimself
fromtheothersin whom
sivenesshe managesfurther
he has alreadyarousedsuspicionand antagonism
of
bythestrangeness
his responses.
Whenfinallyhe accusesJohnnieof cheating,he severs
fromthe group.He welcomesthe chance to avenge
himselfentirely
himself
on theseenemiesby thrashing
one of theirnumber.Afterthe
over
and
Swede
has
is
the
theEasterner
vanquishedhisopponent,
fight
sensesthe victor'sfeelingthathis overweening
confidencehas been
vindicated
: "Therewas a splendorof isolationin hissituationat this
feltoncewhen,lifting
timewhichtheEasterner
hiseyesfromtheman
on theground,he beheldthatmysterious
and lonelyfigure,
waiting."
Later,havingleftthehotel,theSwede findspleasurein thewindand
thathisnew-found
is so greatthathe can
snow,feeling
driving
strength
survivein isolation.Fromtheheightsof his towering
pridetheSwede
looksdownuponmen,and,unableto distinguish
hissimilarity
to them,
"The Blue Hotel" and theIdeal ofHuman Courage
395
feelsfreeof the limitations
imposedon menby the natureof things.
ofthepreFar frombeing"tackedon" or a distorted
interpretation
the
final
of
Hotel"
section
what
"The
Blue
action,
complements
ceding
that
the
Swede
is
has gonebefore.We learnin thefirst
sections
eight
as
result
of
for
his
that
it
occurs
a
his
own
death,
primarily
responsible
character.The last sectionroundsout thetale by revealingthe comis limited(but
plicityofothersin theevent.The viewoftheEasterner
notdistorted)
becausein hisanalysishe failsto includetheSwedehimselfas oneofthoseresponsible.
Butwe aremisreading
thetaleifwe take
theEasterner's
that
theSwede is
of theactionto mean
interpretation
absolvedofresponsibility,
thathe had no otherchoicestomake.That is,
unlessonewishesto engagein thearguments
in life,
aboutdeterminism
forthereis no morein thetaleto suggestthattheSwedeis determined
thanthereis to suggestthatwe in lifeare determined.
We can accountforthenegativeattitudeof the authortowardthe
which
Swedebyreference
to thethemeofthestory
: againsta universe
in itsindifference
seemshostileand malevolent,
man can onlymaintain
orderand meaningin hislifeifhe recognizes
his responsiand fulfills
as
a
link
in
"the
chain
of
The
bility
humanity." pointis that
magnetic
no matterhow reprehensible
the Swede was, thereare others,who,
stained.
thoughnot equallyas guiltyas the gambler,are nonetheless
abouta sensitive
The tale couldeasilyhave beenabouttheEasterner,
and well-meaning
tobe braveat a criticalmoment
man,whoseinability
causeshim to be involvedin an act whichhe himselfwould never
he havingfailedto fulfill
a responsibility
notalwayseasilyfulcommit,
filled.Liketheauthor,he toosidedagainsttheSwede,yethe doesnot
todenyhisinvolvement
inthemurder.
attempt
Stilltheproblemof tonewhichappearsin othersof Crane'sworks
occursin regardto his attitudetowardthe Swede. Crane's attitude
towardtheSwedeis tooharsh.One doesnotregret
thattheSwedecannotbe a tragicfigure
sincehe is amongtheworstofmankindas Crane
has createdhim.One mightfeel,however,
thata readerwouldbe more
withtheEasterner's
oftheaffairifhe were
in sympathy
interpretation
notaskedto forgetso quicklythegreatdegreeto whichtheSwede is
forhisowndeath.Whenwearetoldthathisdeath"registers
responsible
theamount of hispurchase,"we are likelyto agreethatsuchan unto
worthy
persondid indeedgetwhatwas comingto him.It is difficult
conceiveof whatthe Easternercalls a "sin" in the storyas beingless
ofpoeticjustice.BecauseCranehas beenso harsh
thanthefulfillment
in hisjudgmentoftheSwede,we are likelyto feelas thecowboyfeels,
"He [thegambler]don't deservenone of it forkillin'who he did."
It is an errorin executionthatour sympathies
shouldbe withthe
39^
DONALD B. GIBSON
Easternerand not at all withthe Swede,who, afterall is dead. We
shouldbe sorryhe is dead,butCranedoesnotpermit
forhim
sympathy
withintheconfines
ofthetale.
Seen in properperspective
"The Blue Hotel" is of a piece withthe
restofCrane'sfiction.
At thebeginning
ofthestorytheSwede'sproblemsarenotentirely
different
fromtheproblems
facedbythelittleman
ofThe SullivanCountySketches,
byGeorgeKelseyofGeorge'sMother,
or by HenryFleming.Each of thesecharactershas the problemof
an identity,
influences
of freeinghimself
fromconstricting
discovering
willto overcertainnaturalforcesrequiring
(fear,parentalauthority,
at a positionallowinghimto findouthisown
come) and thusarriving
and limitations,
tofindhisownplace in theworldand hisown
strengths
relationto the cosmos.The Swede, as we firstsee him,is so out of
controlofhimself
thathe is nearlyhysterical.
As thevictimofhisfear,
he is incapableofactingfreely;he is manipulated
byhisfearofdeath.
In thissensethe Swede is everycharacterin Crane'sfictionwho is
afraidof dying,everycharacterwho, because he is psychically
enin onewayoranother,
cumbered
isineffectual
intheworld,and thereby
unabletodealwiththatworld.
But "The Blue Hotel" differs
in its treatment
of thischaracterin
someveryimportant
likethe Swede,
With
other
characters
respects.
shownan esand
has
notablyHenryFleming
GeorgeKelsey,Crane
sentialconcernwiththeirmovement
fromthatstatein whichtheindividualhas onlythemostlimitedcontroloverwhathe is and does,to a
moredesiredstatewheretheindividualcan function
as freely
as humans
can function
theexerciseofconsciouswill-from
nonconsciousthrough
ness(willessness)to consciousness
(wilfulness).But here,Craneis not
concerned
withthematterofdevelopment.
In facthe short-circuits
the
fromonestateto theotherbysimplyhavingtheSwedetake
movement
a drink.After
takinga drinktheSwedelosesall fear.
Now we see in anotherstorywhichCrane wrote,"The Duel That
Was Not Fought,"an examinationof the question,is courageunHis concentration
on thisquestion
by discretion
tempered
meaningful?
the
of
concern
for
the
ofhischaracter
precluded necessity
development
to a stateoffearlessness.
If we lookat "The Blue Hotel"fromthispoint
of view,anotherlevel of meaningemerges:courageuntempered
by
discretion
is notvaluable,noris discretion
is discreetin
(the Easterner
not backingup theSwede'schargeagainstJohnnie)worthwhile
if it
are viewedin relationto the
replacescourages.If thesetwoalternatives
idea of mutualresponsibility
amongmen,we see thatneitheris a responsibleattitude.
If thisreadingofCrane'sfamousstory
has theleastvalidity,
itshould
"The Blue Hotel" and theIdeal ofHuman Courage
397
be abundantly
clearthatmenhavethecapacitytostaveoffevilthrough
and fulfillment
of responsibility
to and foreach other.
therecognition
ofanykindof
the
This,as wassaidinthebeginning,
possibility
precludes
victims
men
as
not
determinism
strict
necessarily
onlyofnature,
defining
but of otherhumansas well. In themuchearlierwork,Maggie,we
have firmevidencethatpeopleare of necessity
victimsof each other.
Butas Cranedevelopedbeyondtheattitudes
there,he began
expressed
to see greaterhumanpossibility.
is expressedin "The
That possibility
Blue Hotel,"fortherewe see definedat oncewhatmenare and what
men throughthe fulfillment
of theideal of humancouragecan and
do notassuresurvival
shouldbe. Thoughcourageand responsibility
"The Open Boat" tellsus that- theyoffer
thebesthope in a worldin
whichsurvivalagainstan indifferent
and seemingly
hostileuniverseis
at bestuncertain.
WayneStateUniversity
Detroit,Michigan