Maggie by Stephen Crane
"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets" by Stephen Crane is a poignant novella set in the impoverished slums of New York City. The narrative follows the life of Maggie, a young girl growing up in a tumultuous household marked by her parents' alcoholism and neglect. As Maggie navigates her challenging environment, she displays resilience, but the harsh realities of her surroundings profoundly impact her life choices.
After the death of her younger brother and the subsequent struggles of her older brother Jimmy, Maggie finds herself drawn to the allure of a charismatic bartender named Pete. Their relationship initially brings her excitement and a taste of a more glamorous life, but it ultimately leads to heartbreak and societal rejection. When her mother disowns her, and Pete turns his back, Maggie is left homeless and desperate, resorting to prostitution as a means of survival.
The story culminates in tragedy as Maggie's life spirals downward, highlighting themes of social criticism, the fragility of human dignity, and the harsh consequences of poverty. Crane's work offers a stark portrayal of life in the early 20th century, prompting reflections on the societal forces that shape individual destinies.
Maggie by Stephen Crane
First published: 1893
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Naturalism
Time of plot: Late nineteenth century
Locale: New York City
Principal Characters
Maggie ,Jimmy , her brotherPete , Jimmy’s friend and Maggie’s loverThe Mother ,
The Story
In the slums of New York City, Maggie and her two brothers grow up in the squalor and corruption, both moral and physical, of that poverty-stricken area. Her father usually comes home from work drunk, and her mother, too, is fond of the bottle. The children are neglected. When the drunken parents rant at each other, the children hide in terror under the table or the bed.
Somehow, Maggie manages to remain untouched by the sordidness. Her younger brother dies. Jimmy, her older brother, goes to work after their father dies. Jimmy fights, drinks, and has many affairs with women. From time to time, he is hounded by some of the women, who demand support for themselves and the illegitimate children he has fathered. Jimmy brushes them aside.
When Jimmy brings his best friend home with him, Maggie falls in love. Pete, a bartender, is handsome, flashy, and exciting. One night, he takes her out to show her the nightlife of the city. Maggie’s wonder knows no bounds, for to her the experience is the height of luxury. On the doorstep, she allows Pete to kiss her good-night. Pete is disappointed but not discouraged. He takes Maggie out again. They make love, and Maggie moves in with him.
Pete soon grows tired of Maggie, however, and she is compelled to return home. In furious indignation, her mother orders her out of the house. She has done everything, the mother insists, to bring Maggie up to be a fine, decent girl. She has been an excellent mother and has spared no pains to keep her daughter on the path of virtue. Now her daughter will be dead to her. The neighbors join in, denouncing Maggie. Jimmy, the seducer of other men’s sisters, becomes indignant. He and a companion go to the bar where Pete works, intent upon beating him up. When they fail, Jimmy contents himself by shrugging his shoulders and condemning his sister.
Maggie is homeless and penniless. She visits Pete, but he sends her away, irritated and fearful lest he should lose his job. She turns to prostitution, plying her trade by night, but she does not have much luck. One night, she walks forlornly and unsuccessfully in the waterfront district. Resignedly she trudges on, toward the pier and the black, murky depths of the river.
A short time later, Jimmy comes home from one of his prolonged absences. Maggie, the mother wails, is dead. With the neighbors around her, she sobs and moans. What the Lord has given the Lord has taken away, the neighbors tell her. Uncomforted, Maggie’s mother shrieks that she forgives her daughter; she forgives Maggie her sins.
Bibliography
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