Question

With which view—the sailor's or the maiden's—would a naturalist more likely agree?

"To the sailor, wrecked,
The sea was dead grey walls
Superlative in vacancy,
Upon which nevertheless at fateful time
Was written
The grim hatred of nature."

Answer 1

A naturalist would agree with the sailor's view of the sea as an indifferent force, resonant with Naturalist literature that emphasizes nature's indifference to human struggles.

Step-by-step explanation:

With which view—the sailor's or the maiden's—would a naturalist more likely agree? A naturalist, influenced by ideas like those of Darwin and other naturalist writers, would likely agree with the sailor's view of the sea. In the excerpts provided, the sea is depicted not as a romantic or divine entity but as an indifferent force of nature. This perception aligns with the Naturalist notion that nature is not concerned with human struggles but operates on its own vast and indifferent terms. The excerpts from 'The Open Boat' illustrate this perspective, emphasizing the sailors' insignificance against the vastness of the ocean and the randomness of their survival, much akin to the indifference of nature that Naturalists acknowledge.