'The Unsung Hero' By Stephen Crane

The Unsung Hero
Stephen Crane’s Own Story, is a survival story which follows 4 men: the Captain, the Cook, the Correspondent (Crane himself), and the Oiler named Billie who had just escaped from their sinking boat the Steamer Commodore. As the 4 men escape in a small lifeboat, they are faced with harsh reality as the ocean reassures them that this survival was not going to be an excursion. Despite not having slept for two days, each man works tirelessly to keep the boat afloat. Struggling together the 4 men form a tight brotherhood who all despise nature which is out to get their life. As the story progresses we start to see how without one another their survival would have been impossible; the captain giving out orders, the Oiler and correspondent rowing the boat, and the cook endlessly bailing water out of the boat. However as Crane develops the characters, he shows two very
Is it the person people admire? Or is it someone who saves others? In the Oxford dictionary, the definition of a hero is “A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” This is a very accurate description for the captain in the story. He has the title as the “captain”, which proves his great achievements, the determination to keep his 3 crew members alive, and his strong mental stability even after mourning over his lost men and ship. With no doubt the captain is a true leader who sincerely cares for his crew giving them advice and experience. Yet all these incredible accomplishments and traits are outshined by the mundane commoner Billie. The oiler has nothing specifically special, he was the oiler for the steamer commodore and now the designated rower for the ten-foot dinghy. This in particular makes him sound like an average person whom you could meet on the street and it is true. But his true values shine when he echoes the captain's orders bringing structure to the crew and confidence when all seemed