Final answer:
The sailor sees the sea as an antagonist due to his dire predicament, while for Mariana it is the backdrop of her loneliness and longing. Both perspectives highlight nature's indifference to human struggles, but their experiences vary in immediacy and type of conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
How does the sailor's view differ from the maiden's in the given text? The sailor perceives the sea as a hostile entity with "dead grey walls" reflective of his perilous situation and ultimate struggle against nature. This starkly contrasts with maiden Mariana's experience, detailed in Tennyson's poem, where her loneliness and waiting are expressed through the desolate setting. The sailor views the sea with resentment and a sense of betrayal, as if nature itself is an enemy. In contrast, Mariana’s world is one of passive desolation and waiting for a change that never comes.
For the sailor, the sea is a threatening force and he is directly engaged in a battle for survival against its might. Alternatively, the maiden's perspective of her surroundings is steeped in the desolation and tedium of endless waiting, without the immediate threat of physical danger.
The themes of nature's indifference are prevalent in both perspectives, illustrating a key aspect of the human condition: the struggle to find meaning in the face of an uncaring environment. In literature, this often translates to contrasting human experiences with the vastness and impartiality of nature.