In most traditional happy ending stories, there always seems to be evidence of supernaturalism. However, Stephen Crane leaves out all the fairy-tale elements and mystical creatures in his “The Open Boat”. Throughout the story there are constant examples of the stark, realistic and indifferent aspects of life. In “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane, naturalism is evident through the use of language, literary techniques, and thematic elements. First, Crane's use of language played an important role in the naturalistic feel of the story. Crane makes sure to use specific phrases and words that describe things exactly the way they actually appear. He doesn't "butter" or "coat" their descriptions to prevent the reader from associating an emotion with the item. Crane, for example, describes the ocean very realistically; it doesn't make the reader feel anything special. "These waves were the color of slate, except for the tops, which were a foamy white, ... The horizon narrowed and widened, dipped and rose, and at all times its edge was jagged by waves that seemed to be raised in places like rocks." Instead of describing the water as beautiful and calm, he gives the reader a sense of the rational behavior of the ocean. Furthermore, motifs, repetition, and dialogue are some of the important literary techniques used that helped create this naturalistic story. A couple of motifs in the story are the relentless ocean waves and the defiant shark. The waves are proof of the fact that the ocean is absolutely indifferent to those who experience it, just like every other part of nature. They are relentless, as they continue to crash into the side of the boat with all the power and force of... middle of paper... we do not know nature as its true form. Natural disasters occur here and there, but day by day we see nature simply as a beautiful picture through a window. Once we find ourselves in a situation where we have to face nature's worst, we collapse and fall. We are naive and constantly protected by its strength and become helpless when we are no longer in control. The men on this abandoned dinghy are just an active part of the world, with no importance to nature. Crane successfully delivers this message to readers. In conclusion, naturalism is evident in many parts of Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat". His specific use of language, literary techniques, and thematic elements provides solid examples of life and nature at their extremes. By showing the internal and physical struggles of these men in nature, Crane managed to best capture the naturalism.