The Easterner - the Blue Hotel

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does not realize the danger he poses to himself.

The Swede’s death is inevitable due to his insecurity. The consumption of whiskey and change of attitude compels the Swede to alter his perspective about the West. In the saloon, he proclaims ‘I’m a gentleman, and I want people to drink with me’ (617). After boasting about his fight with Johnnie, the Swede’s pride triumphs above everything else. He believes that his victory elicits respect from others. Hence, the Swede thinks that he must be respected and cannot be harmed. This provokes him to act carelessly. After the ensuing brawl, the Swede mocks the other men by “ … giving one derisive glance backward” when leaving the hotel (615). The Swede views the peaceful hotel with scorn, yet walks into a saloon which exposes his vulnerability. However, the Swede becomes confident that the men in the saloon are like him, as he “ … smil[es] fraternally upon the barkeeper” (617). Yet, the other men in the saloon are uninterested in the Swede’s tale of his fight with Johnnie. The gambler and the other men quietly remain aloof from the Swede, but notice his presence. The Swede’s ego causes him to “ … ruffle out his chest”, “ … snarl” and “ … explode” when the others decline his offer for a drink (617). The Swede, fearless and overconfident, after beating Johnnie, unsuccessfully attempts to attack the gambler. Since he reasoned he could not be killed, the Swede tried to force the gambler to drink with him. When the gambler’s blade “ … shot forward,” the Swede’s pride is instantly destroyed. His surprising cry underlines his inability to comprehend the consequences of his actions. The cash machine in the saloon read ‘This registers the amount of your purchase’ suggesting that the Swede “bought” his own death, yet the Swede only understands this as he dies (618).

In Stephen Crane’s “The Blue Hotel”, the Swede’s death is unavoidable due to his fear of the West, the decision to drink whiskey, and his insecurity. The events in the story slowly unravel, foreshadowing the Swede’s death, yet he is oblivious to this. The snow turning the color of blood, or the red light outside the saloon hints at the Swede’s outcome. However, these signs of death do not impact the Swede, as he is oblivious to what the other men in the hotel can see. By initially believing that he would get killed, the Swede evokes a strong reaction from the others which only leads to an increase of his own fear. However, drinking the whiskey instantly changes the Swede’s behavior. The Swede believes that he would not be harmed, but gambles his life on this idea. He realizes his mistake too late. The Swede ultimately dies because of his inadequate perception of the West. He is afraid of being killed in the safe hotel, but risks his life in the saloon, resulting in his death.

Works Cited

Crane, Stephen “The Blue Hotel” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 8th ed. Vol. 2. New York. W.W Norton & Company Inc., 1999. Print.