The Blue Hotel Essay, Research Paper

Leah Miller

Comparison Essay

English J

In the Blue Hotel, by Stephen Crane, four characters play four games of High

Five. The game is played with partners. There are both similarities and differences in the

third and fourth game.

One similarity is that in both games the partners are the same. Johnnie and the

Cowboy is one pair of partners, while the Swede and the Easterner are the other.

Another similarity is that Johnnie is the dealer for both games. This allows Johnnie and

the Cowboy to cheat in each game.

One difference between the third and fourth game of High Five is who starts them

and another difference is how they are started. The third game is started ?jocosely? by

Johnnie and the Cowboy. The Swede is at first reluctant to join. The fourth game starts

out of tension by the Swede. This shows a change in the mood of the games.

The essential difference is who plays the role of the board-whacker. In the third

game the Cowboy is the board-whacker, while in the fourth game the Swede is the board-

whacker. The fact that the Swede is playing the role of the board-whacker, shows a

change of character in the Swede. In the fourth game the Swede is less intimidated

by the others than he is in the third game.