How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Suddenly there was another swish and another long flash of bluish light, and this time it was alongside the boat, and might almost have been reached with an oar. The correspondent saw an enormous fin speed like a shadow through the water, hurling the crystalline spray and leaving the long glowing trail. (5.19)
Uh-oh, looks like the ocean's got backup. We can think of the shark as one of the ocean's evil henchman. There's not too much to read into with this quote—we just want to reiterate that it's not only man against ocean here, but also man against everything else in nature. They're in the ocean now so they have to deal with things like sharks and seagulls, but rest assured, if this story took place in the jungle, they would be all stressed out about quicksand and jaguars. These guys just can't get a break.
Quote #5
During this dismal night, it may be remarked that a man would conclude that it was really the intention of the seven mad gods to drown him, despite the abominable injustice of it. For it was certainly an abominable injustice to drown a man who had worked so hard, so hard. The man felt it would be a crime most unnatural. (6.2)
We've established two things so far: 1) man and nature are adversaries, and 2) nature seems to really have a bone to pick with man. This quote adds a third element to it all: the men think this whole situation is totally unfair—it's definitely not a fair fight, especially after they've held their own for so long. It's like, if you can survive ten minutes in a boxing ring with Mike Tyson, don't you think Tyson should give you some credit and let you go without knocking you out? The guys in the boat sure do.
Quote #6
When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples. Any visible expression of nature would surely be pelleted with his jeers. (6.3)
Question: What's the only thing worse than nature actively trying to destroy you? Answer: Nature not caring about you at all. That sounds like a pretty big screw you to us. It's like that big two-part episode of The Simpsons where Homer threatens to kill Mr. Burns for not knowing his name. Anyway, needless to say, this is a crucial turning point in our story. The men want to do something, anything, to make the universe notice them, acknowledge their existence, and maybe admit their lives are actually worth something. But as time goes on and things keep getting worse, they realize there isn't really anything they can do to be noticed.