Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane

 Originally published in 1893, Maggie: a Girl of the Streets is both a classic and a curriculum relic in some areas. I read it because my American Lit teacher is going to be teaching it this year. After a couple of rough experiences I make sure that I've read everything my teachers are teaching if only I so that I can respond with an emphatic "Yes, I have," to the question of "Have you even read what she's teaching?" (The irony is that usually the person asking the question has not read the whole thing, whatever it is, and being able to say yes tends to short circuit the tirade.) Anyway, give the title, I figured that I should really get it read before it's introduced. 

It's a brutal story. In fact, Crane had to self-publish the novella in 1893 because publishers objected to the content and felt that it was risqué. It was later revised and republished in 1896. Honestly, I can see the publishers' point. I don't find it particularly risqué from a modern context, but it's an excellent example of literary realism and it's a story about two kids of alcoholic impoverished Irish immigrants. It's a grim story involving violence, hypocrisy, and rampant alcoholism.

Maggie, the main character, is less a protagonist than she is a victim of her circumstances. Essentially, Maggie first appears as a young girl with her brother Jimmie being terrorized by her parents. Later as a young adult, she begins dating Jimmie's friend Pete which causes her to be kicked out for "going to the devil." Pete later ditches her and it is heavily implied that Maggie turns to prostitution which ultimately causes her death. Like I said, grim. 

In terms of a class text, there are many virtues that outweigh the problems I think. First, it is an excellent example of literary realism which was an important style for the time period. Additionally, it can be used as an example of Naturalism. Second, the content does a good job of illustrating several concerns of the time period as well as illustrate the poverty that was rampant in the big cities. Third, it's short. The copy I read was only about 60 pages long. It packs in a lot of good educational fodder for its size.

However, I got to say, it is not an enjoyable read and I grew to detest just about all of the characters surrounding Maggie. I think that was rather Crane's point though, so I can't really call it a flaw.