American disharmonies Violence, hypocrisy and moral ambiguity

In Maggie. A girl of the streets- Stephen Crane

Stephen Crane describes the social ills of his time, poverty in all its ugliness and the
brutality of abuse, as opposed to the utopian representations of America. Considered to be
one of the most remarkable literary naturalists in American literature, Crane presents a
world in which the human character is unavoidably shaped by social conditions,
surroundings, heredity, and background.

Violence

Jimmie Johnson - Maggies brother, is the first character introduced in the book, during a

brutal fight.
In the first three chapters, Jimmie is in the middle of different fights: with boys from
another neighborhood, with one of his friends, he is beaten by his father and mother and

he strikes his sister.

Its like I can never beat any sense into yer damned wooden head
Being surrounded by violence and deprived of care, his future is easily predictable: The
inexperienced fibers of the boys eyes were hardened at an early age. He became a young

man of leather. (14)

Hardened by his difficult childhood in the Bowery district, being neglected by his
parents, witnessing and also suffering violence in his own home, Jimmie becomes an
abuser himself, taking his fathers place after his death: Jimmie grew large enough to
take the vague position of head of family. As incumbent of that office, he stumbled up-

stairs late at night, as his father had done before him. (18)
Jimmie doesnt care about his mother or his sister, only about his reputation, thus he
regards Maggie in a proprietary way, the reasons for which he fights Pete having nothing
to do with his brotherly feelings towards Maggie, whom he blames for bringing disgrace

to their family
He also blames Pete, for seducing his sister, despite his own actions: Two women in
different parts of the city and entirely unknown to eachother caused him considerable
annoyance by breaking forth, simultaneously, at fateful intervals, into wailings about
marriage and support and infants (17)

What is it this time? Is yer fadder beatin yer mudder or is yer mudder beaten yer
fadder?

Hypocrisy and moral ambiguity

Throughout the text there are various instances of hypocrisy and moral ambiguity: in the
beginning, Mr. Johnson tries to stop his son from fighting but only by threatening to beat
Jimmie himself. His mother also disapproves of the boys behaviour, fearing that he could

tear his clothes but then proceeds with the punishment by hitting him.
Another illustration of hypocrisy and moral ambiguity is Maggies mother and her speech
about her daughters education: Ah, who would tink such a bad girl could grow up in

our fambly, Jimmie, me son(34)

After seeing Pete with Nellie, Maggie returns home but her family rejects her, fearing
that the others would blame them for forgiving her wrongdoings. This moralistic
perspective contradicts Jimmie and his mothers disgraceful actions. Out of all the
characters, Maggie seems to be the most moral one, by comparison with the rest who
reject and abandon her just to comply with the rules of their society.

Conclusion

All of Stephen Cranes characters are products of the environment. The society in which
they live, guided by poverty, violence and misguided values is the one which shapes their
future, and any possibility of escape is futile.