"When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters.
..."See in text(The Open Boat)
The sea is personified as having a voice, one the men from the open boat could “interpret” or understand. Their understanding of the sea is more profound, having survived its implacable power for several days and nights in a small dinghy. The sea is also a symbol of nature. Nature’s indifference to humankind is a universal truth they now understand from their struggles to survive.
"Neither knew they had bequeathed to the cook the company of another shark, or perhaps the same shark...."See in text(The Open Boat)
The men’s boat being in shark-infested waters is brought into the story again, underscoring the dangers they face at sea. The possibility of the shark’s being the same shark seen by the correspondent is disturbing, as it would suggest that the shark is actually following the boat.
"Keep it about two points off the port bow...."See in text(The Open Boat)
The captain instructs the correspondent to continue toward the light in the north, keeping it about two degrees to the port or left side of the bow, the front of the boat.
"“Ah, now, we're all right! Now we're all right! There'll be a boat out here for us in half an hour.”
..."See in text(The Open Boat)
Seeing someone on the shore, the men believe once again that rescue is imminent. Throughout the story, they experience a range of conflicting emotions—hope and the certainty that they will be rescued, followed by anger and despair when they are not saved.
"The whole affair is absurd. . .But, no, she cannot mean to drown me. She dare not drown me. She cannot drown me. Not after all this work...."See in text(The Open Boat)
Appearing in the middle of this long paragraph, the passage expresses the view that some force in the universe actively decides a human’s fate, whether the person lives or dies; to take the men’s lives now, after they have come so close to land, would be “absurd.” The passage and the paragraph represent a logical argument, laced with anger and frustration, for sparing the men’s lives.
"Slowly the land arose from the sea. From a black line it became a line of black and a line of white, trees, and sand...."See in text(The Open Boat)
The passage describes how the land looks to the men, as if it were rising from the sea, as the boat moves closer to the shore. As they get closer to the shore, trees and a sandy beach become visible.
"They were a captain, an oiler, a cook, and a correspondent, and they were friends, friends in a more curiously iron-bound degree than may be common...."See in text(The Open Boat)
Despite their different stations in life, the men recognize the humanity in one another; they are united in personal friendship, an “iron-bound” friendship uncommonly strong.
"this captain had on him the stern impression of a scene in the grays of dawn of seven turned faces, and later a stump of a top-mast with a white ball on it that slashed to and fro at the waves, went low and lower, and down...."See in text(The Open Boat)
The passage describes the sinking of the captain’s ship, providing exposition that clarifies why he and the other three men are now at sea in a small boat: they have survived the ship’s sinking. The reference to “seven turned faces” indicates that four members of the captain’s crew are unaccounted for.
