Final answer:
The sea in Kate Chopin's works often symbolizes themes such as freedom and the natural world, specifically in 'The Awakening' and 'The Storm'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The novel referenced is The Awakening by Kate Chopin, an author known for her exploration of women's issues and their roles in society during the 19th century.
Within Chopin's works, the sea often symbolizes various thematic elements such as freedom, the unknown, and the natural world. In the context of The Awakening, the sea is closely tied to the protagonist's journey towards self-discovery and the defiance of societal norms.
However, the provided passage discusses another text, The Storm, which also uses the sea as a literary device, though in this case, it serves as a backdrop for the tumultuous affair and emotional liberation of the character Calixta.
When contrasting these works to the provided passage that does not seem to come from The Awakening, it is clear that the function of the sea as a direct symbolic element for the aforementioned themes is not present.
Instead, the sea in this passage represents the natural world's indifference to human struggle, rather than a symbol of freedom or self-discovery.
In the provided passage that seems unrelated to 'The Awakening', the sea reflects nature's indifference to human struggle, differing from its common symbolic representation in Chopin's texts.
Complete question:
Chopin references the sea several times throughout the novel, what does not symbolize the sea in the novel?