Stephen Crane's 'The Open Boat,' is thought to be one of the finest stories ever written by an American. Crane uses a theme of cosmic irony. Cosmic irony is the belief that the universe is so large and man is so small that the universe is indifferent to the plight of man. In 'The Open Boat,' Crane's theme, cosmic irony, is illustrated through the use of symbols for isolation, insignificance, and indifference. Three …showed first 75 words of 430 total…

…showed last 75 words of 430 total…of many objects in that vast sea. This is prime example of man versus society. The belief of cosmic irony holds great significance in the writers of the time of Stephen Crane. The new philosophies portrayed in cosmic irony were so new and different. They taught a different approach to the way the reader interprets certain symbols. Cosmic irony is a theme which is used every day, even though it may not always be noticed.