Final answer:
Crane uses descriptive language and vivid imagery to convey the sailor's perspective, with themes of nature's indifference and human insignificance. He utilizes Naturalism to depict the sailors' struggle against uncaring natural forces and captures their psychological turmoil through their introspective transformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the passage provided, Crane uses descriptive language and imagery to convey the sailor's perspective, highlighting themes of nature's indifference and man's insignificance in the face of natural forces. The language evokes a sense of desolation and powerlessness, with phrases like 'the grim hatred of nature' and 'the sea was dead grey walls' illustrating the overwhelming and unfeeling presence of the sea. The Naturalism in his writing emphasizes the struggle and the absence of control humans have over external, unconcerned natural forces, which is a key characteristic of this literary movement.
Additionally, Crane's use of color imagery, such as 'carmine and gold' and 'the gray hue of the dawning', contrasts the vibrancy of life with the bleak situation of the sailors. The real-life ordeal Crane endured, which inspired 'The Open Boat', allows him to describe the sailors' emotions and thoughts realistically, capturing their desperation and sense of futility in stark, vivid details.
Crane's narrative also delves into the psychological impact of the sailors' predicament, as seen in their introspection and the transformation of their worldview. The flow of the narrative and the use of metaphor, like comparing the windmill to a 'giant' indifferent to the plight of the sailors, serves to illustrate the vast gulf between the natural world and human concerns.