In "the Seafarer" the speaker displays an ambivalent attitude toward life at sea. On the one hand, he is fascinated by it; on the other he is terrified. Scholars have interpreted the sea as a representation of the human existence. What is your opinion about this interpretation?

I agree with this representation because the sea has traditionally been used in literature as an allegory of human existence. First of all, it is huge and mysterious, full of dangers, and yet beautiful in its cruelty. The seafarer, just like any human being, cannot but delve into the enormous sea, that is life; still, he can't but wonder what is going to happen to him. Also, the sea/life is a blessing and a curse at the same time. It is wonderful to have the privilege, and yet it is a source of human suffering.