THE BLUE HOTEL

p THE BLUE HOTEL THE BLUE HOTEL Stephen Crane 's well-known story "The Blue Hotel " lends itself readily to allegorical interpretations . While generally regarded as a naturalist writer , the significance of Crane 's "The Blue Hotel " traditionally extends beyond the journalistic impact of the story , to the resonance of its more complex , perhaps universal , themes . Though myriad interpretations of the story exist in literary scholarship , the preponderance of critics seem to recognize the central theme of "The Blue Hotel " as that of : the outsider versus the collective "The theme of

the story : against a universe which in its indifference seems hostile and malevolent , man can only maintain and meaning in this life if he recognizes and fulfills his responsibility as a link in "the magnetic chain of humanity (Gibson , 115

On the surface ,the story recounts a frontier motif of action : a crooked card game , a murder , and the murder 's aftermath . Beneath the surface of the story , the central theme of outsider versus collective is apparent from the beginning of the tale . The incoming train brings three newcomers one of them , the Swede , is described as "One was a shaky and quick-eyed Swede , with a great shining cheap valise (Crane ) it is this outsider who , in refusing to conform to the extant social mores and conditions of Fort Romper , becomes emblematic of the individualist gone too far

As the story develops , the astute reader begins to recognize that the characters of the story represent a social microcosm and that the events of the story , particularly those which arise from the tension of the outsider against the collective , offer a sociological indictment of sorts , although it is not readily evident whether Crane intends to represent the Swede as an heroic individualist or a true hazard to the well being of the group . The Swede is obviously an

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unsympathetic , even sinister character . When he begins to play cards with the cowboy and the Easterner and Johnnie , he remarks "I suppose there have been a good many men killed in this room " The other mens jaws drop with horrified offense , but this proves to be merely the beginning of the Swede 's antics

Later , the Swede continues to act intimidating at dinner "He seemed to have grown suddenly taller he gazed , brutally disdainful , into every face (Crane ) He then smites Scully 's sore shoulder , insists on another game of cards , and proceeds to start a row over an accusation of cheating . Throughout these actions , the Swede is remarkably insensitive to his surroundings and completely unconcerned about the welfare of anyone but himself . The theme of outsider versus the collective begins to reach its most tension-filled point

With the Swede 's accusation against the group , the threat to the group has become tangible and certain . The group responds by murdering the Swede , and the aftermath of the murder is the part of the story which demonstrates clearly that Crane 's theme is the danger that the extreme individualist...