After having read Stephen Crane’s, “Maggie: A Girl of the Streets," a couple of things come to my mind. While reading this novel I wanted to attempt to see the violence that was presented as a form of entertainment from a readers perspective. I also wanted to give attention to the romantic expectation of the characters, more specifically to Maggie and Pete. Lastly for the purpose of this paper I want to briefly provide my thoughts on the novel as a whole. Beginning with the idea of violence being presented as a form of entertainment, I felt that this notion was presented throughout the entire story. From the opening of the story we read of the first violent encounter that Jimmy and the rivalry young one’s have. This is just the beginning of the numerous amounts of altercations that would take place. For me it appeared that the violence throughout this novel was uncontrollably embedded into the characters daily lives. Almost as for them to have disputes with one another whether it be a relative, a friend, or an enemy was as natural as it is for me to get up in the morning and brush my teeth. From a reader’s point of view, or from my point of view the violent actions were rather entertaining. It was almost as I was reading an action movie script packed full of punches. But not only does it provide entertainment for the reader and rather fitting for the culture and time period of this text. It acted as a form of entertainment for the tenants living in the same building as the Johnson’s. Crane states, “The loud tremendous sneering of the mother brought the denizens of the Rum Alley tenant to their doors” (Crane 981). Moving away from the violent aspects present throughout the story of Maggie. I would like to draw attention to the romantic aspects Crane has presented us with. Maggie, unaware of her developed ragged beauty comes into contact with Pete the sharp bartender. At first it appeared to me that their initial meeting