Stephen Crane: A True American Rebel

What if you were to meet one of the most interesting person that ever lived? You might ask yourselves how a person can be that interesting. Well I am here to clarify. One of those interesting people would have to be Stephen Crane. To further explain, if Indiana Jones and Tony Montana had child, it would Stephen Crane. How can two men have a child you might ask? Some things are better left unsaid.

Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900) was an American journalist, poet, and novelist. He is most known for his works with the earliest examples of realism and naturalism. Crane is regarded as one of the most influential writers of his time. Crane born on November 1, 1871 was the eighth surviving child of parents - Jonathan Townley Crane, and Mary Helen Peck. He was named after his great-great grandfather, Stephen Crane, a revolutionary patriot and a delegate to the continental congress. His father being a Methodist minister, and his mother being a popular spokeswoman and a highly religious woman, Crane was raised in a strict Methodist home. He thought himself how to read at the age of four. Crane attended a public school, and then attended Syracuse University. Crane dropped out of Syracuse, and decided to become a full time journalist. While working as a journalist, Crane wrote Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, a story about a prostitute working in New York. Although, this book was a flop among critics and readers alike, it earned him recognition among writers. Following his mother’s death on December 7, 1891, he moved to New York. In New York, Crane in the midst of a financial crisis, wrote The Red Badge of Courage, a story about a soldier who flees from the field of battle. Ironically, Crane never experienced war when he was writing the book. The Red Badge of Courage won Crane instant fame. Critics acclaimed the book to be one the finest book about war. Crane did all this at the age of 24. Following his success, Crane testified for a suspected prostitute. Many newspapers portrayed Stephen Crane as a man of immoral character, and his reputation was ruined by it.

Crane left New York to work as a war correspondence in Cuba. People like Theodore Roosevelt were bitter critics of Crane’s correspondence. Although Crane did not experience war when he wrote The Red Badge of Courage, he was sure to experience it in the following years to come. Before leaving for Cuba, he stopped in Jacksonville, Florida. There met Cora Taylor, an owner of a local brothel. Crane and Taylor fell instantly in love. Taylor would accompany Crane throughout much of his life. Crane also worked as a correspondence in the Greco-Turkish war and the English and Spanish-American war. He met many people along his journey who were equally influenced by him, as he was by them. Crane made lasting friendships with writers H.G Wills and Joseph Conrad (famous authors). Such travels affected Crane’s health. On May 28, 1900, Crane and Taylor took a retreat to the Black Forest in Germany, where he died on June 5, 1900 at the age of 28.

Stephen Crane is remembered as an adventurous-rebel, who was ahead of his time. Crane inspired countless other writers and readers alike. Although, today he is best remembered for The Red Badge of Courage (American classic), his numerous works -poems,short stories, novels- defined American ingenuity. Stephen Crane, a true American rebel.