In “The Open Boat,” the author, Stephen Crane, uses symbols and events to highlight the fact that we are all alone in life, even if there are people around us. Nobody knows what's going on in our heads. Every experience is different, even if everyone looks at the same thing. Just as in the case of the blind men and the elephant, the cook, the correspondent, the captain and the oiler are all together on the boat, but each has their own experiences. There are several symbols in the story that help emphasize this point. A powerful one is the boat. It's small and lonely on the ocean, with only a few patches of seaweed or a seagull or two to keep it company. The waves themselves are the ups and downs of life. At any moment, a wave can come and overwhelm you, leaving you stranded with no idea what to do, and more just keep coming. Just as in life, “…after you have successfully overcome one wave, you discover that behind it there is another equally important and equally nervously anxious to do something effective to submerge the boats”. Line 9.Another symbol shown...