Jonathan Harrison February 10, 2009

Stephen Crane

" Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. He is recognized by modern critics as one of the most innovative writers of his generation" (wikipedia)

This quote reminds us that Stephen Crane lived to be only 28 years old yet still he accomplished so much in this brief lifetime. He paints a real picture with incredibly bleak scenery and unfortunate circumstances while forcing one to deal with the ugliness of real life.

"Maggie" was the sorrowful tale of a young Irish woman and her rode to destruction. She is forced into bleak circumstances from the beginning of her life in which she witness her brother, and sometimes herself, receiving beatings from her mother and father occasionally taking a break to chastise each other. Maggie continues along this dreary path she called a life, working boring jobs and fantasizing of better more exciting days. Maggie's life seems to take an upswing upon meeting her brother's friend Pete. Pete whisks her off her feet by taking her out to experience the nightlife of the city. The plays and performers dazzle Maggie as she decides that Pete is the one. Jimmy, Maggie's brother, and her mom are outraged about the connection in which Pete and herself had made and disown her from the family. Upon the arrival of a newer, better looking, girl Pete dumps Maggie like she was a sack of potatoes. She is heartbroken and unsure of what to do or where to go, being disowned by her family, she is driven to prostitution and all the ill effects that come with it. The story comes to an abrupt and depressing halt as the news that Maggie is dead is relaid upon Jimmie and her Mother. The mother distraught over the news sobs and swears that she finally forgives Maggie.

This story is an all to accurate account of the horrible lifestyle which was on display at the Irish tenements in New York. Crane using Naturalism does a great job in describing the people, environment and the struggles which come along with the package. One gets the sense that Crane has a deep level of concern for these people and their situations by the vivid accounts given in describing the living conditions in which the Irish literally had to survive. Poverty and the effects of its nature are the underlying tone in this story. Crane simply suggest to the reader that their is no hope of success when one comes from such depths. What other choice did Maggie have other than prostitution, would be the main question Crane is trying to evoke from readers in an attempt to draw empathy and understanding when confronted with these types of people. Crane realizes that the Irish should be treated just as any other man would be, but instead they are in fact treated like garbage and seen as a lower class. The Naturalism and the effect of showing all aspects of life opens our eyes to the fact that people come from all different places and have different problems, and the story "Maggie" is a clear representation of just this.