How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
These waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem in small boat navigation. (1.2)
Right from the get-go, the boat and the ocean are described as adversaries—not quite enemies, but definitely playing for rival teams. If we think of the boat as representative of man, and the ocean symbolic of nature, we can see that this story is probably going to have something to do with man's relationship to the natural world. Of course, this story is brought to us from a human perspective, so naturally the ocean's actions would be presented as "wrongful," and its behavior "a problem" that the men have to deal with. We wonder what the ocean's take on the situation might be like…if it has an opinion at all.
Quote #2
A singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover that there is another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats. (1.10)
Pay attention to the first line here—how can a wave be "nervously anxious"? You almost imagine the wave rubbing its watery hands together, licking its salty lips, and getting ready to smash up some boats. Still, it's a little weird to imply the ocean has a will—we don't think waves are intentionally destructive. It's important to note the way Crane personifies the sea at the beginning of the story—this might change as the story progresses.
Quote #3
The little boat, lifted by each towering sea, and splashed viciously by the crests, made progress that in the absence of sea-weed was not apparent to those in her. She seemed just a wee thing wallowing, miraculously, top-up, at the mercy of five oceans. Occasionally, a great spread of water, like white flames, swarmed into her. (2.21)
Just in case you missed it, here's a reminder of how ridiculously outmatched the men in the boat are in facing off against the might of the sea. Like, way worse than David and Goliath, but somehow the boat has "miraculously" held its own—so far, at least. It's Crane's use of that word—"miraculously"—that should be noted here. Does this word fit in with the other ways the narrator presents their predicament?