Stephen Crane
Today in modern America, it has become almost impossible to avoid the tales of horror that surround us almost anywhere we go. Scandals, murders, theft, corruption, extortion, abuse, prostitution, all common occurrences in this day in age. A hundred years ago however, people did not see the world in quite such an open manner despite the fact that in many ways, similarities were abundant. People's lives were, in their views, free of all evil and pollution. They assumed they lived peaceful lives and those around them lived the same flawless lives untouched by corruption as well. Many were too blind to see beyond their own homes and into the lives of others who dealt with a more unfortunate fate. Those being the ones who lived in poverty, abuse, and other harsh conditions which were finally exposed to America in 1893 by a 22-year old college free lance writer who simply wished to show things as they appeared to him: bitterly real. Stephen Crane was America's first realistic writer who exposed the realities of the slums, tenement living and other unfavorable conditions to a very naive American audience. Through hard work and his great devotion to the examination of the darker side of life Crane finally was able
Peden, William. "Stephen Crane." Encyclopedia Americana. 1998 ed. Scenes like these are typical in the opening chapters of the novel. His uncensored dialect help in the creation of Crane's, "...modern slum-world, ferocious and sorid..."(Berryman58-59). It continues in this manner until Maggie and Jimmie are York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1956. 135-145. The main focus of the remaining chapters is the change of Maggie. After being introduced to Peter, one of Jimmie's friends, Maggie undergoes a drastic change. She becomes aware of her surroundings and begins to take note of the world around her. Perhaps the greatest irony of the novel lies in this change that occurs to Maggie. When first introduced to Maggie, we are given a picture of complete and utter innocence. She is presented to us as a strong, defiant child battling to overcome life's hardships. She is unaware of life beyond her way of living and is much too naive to realize how poorly she lives. All this changes when she meets Peter. She becomes more self conscious, taking notice of things around her that she has never before taken note of and never in her life had any significance to her: Karlen, Amo. "The Craft of Stephen Crane." Georgia Review Fall 1974: pp 470- Literature. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1973. 37-40.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2546
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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