The Symbolic Naturalist of The Blue Hotel :: Blue Hotel Essays

The Symbolic Naturalist of The Blue Hotel This essay considers the perspective of crowd Trammell coxswain as presented in his essay An Analysis of the Blue Hotel Cox begins his essay by discussing naturalism and genus Gruss fictional style. He suggests that Cranes technique is that of the symbolist rather than the naturalist in that he carefully selects his details non as pieces of evidence in a one-dimensional report on man but as connotatively associated parts of an elaborately contrived emblematical structure. Basically the thrust of Coxs argument is centered around the degree to which Crane displays the characteristics of a naturalist writer. He comments on the intricacy of the story and how head Crane weaves in the details and underlying messages which give the story its problematic complexity. Much of Cranes hidden meaning is achieved through his manipulation of imagery. Cox focuses on this imagery and picks it apart, thus displaying themes that are fairly central to the images behind naturalism. unrivalled of these ideas that is carried throughout the story behind the faade of imagery is the idea of mans intimate nature as egocentric, as detailed by the contrast of the house to the drive in which the storm represents the fundamental conflict between man and his environment. at bottom the house, in the central room is the stove, which is referenced frequently and can be seen as mans inner nature that burns with elemental aggressions as the stove is depict as humming with a godlike violence. Cox then addresses the idea of natural symbolism and Cranes use of color to represent feelings and emotions and thus subtly carry them through the story. The two most central colors employ are red and white, red as shown through the fire to play anger, and white as shown through the snow to show fear. Cox provides examples of this such as the Swede who throughout the story shows both extremes of emotion and at one point is described, upon the Swedes de athly pale cheeks were two spots bright crimson.