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... Naturalism in literature sometimes depicts the relationship between individuals and nature, focusing on the significance of characters in their environment. One such naturalistic theme explored in "The Open Boat" is nature's indifference to humanities fate. This theme is exhibited by the four characters' struggle to survive as the sea carelessly tossed their boat around. As you read through this text, look for and join conversations concerning nature's relationship to humanity. Selected Key Passages Section 10: 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 . . . There was a terrible grace in the move of the waves, and they came in silence, save for the snarling of the crests. Section 41: 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 appa...