The Open Boat Brotherhood Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)

Quote #10

Presently he saw a man running along the shore. He was undressing with most remarkable speed. Coat, trousers, shirt, everything flew magically off him. [. . .] Then he saw the man who had been running and undressing, and undressing and running, come bounding into the water. He dragged ashore the cook, and then waded toward the captain, but the captain waved him away, and sent him to the correspondent. He was naked, naked as a tree in winter, but a halo was about his head, and he shone like a saint. (7.31, 35)

Remember earlier when we talked about how the feeling of brotherhood didn't extend past the borders of the boat? Well here's where that ends. Fittingly, it happens once the boat is tossed, and the men are swimming toward shore. A man appears on shore, and immediately runs to help rescue them. Trust us, it's no accident that he takes off all his clothes and runs to them as pure and naked as a newborn babe. As if there were any doubt about this, Crane helpfully describes a halo appearing over his head. So what do you think this means? Do the men now feel brotherly toward all humanity? Or just the ones who help them out?