My greatest enemies are Women and the Sea. These things I hate. Women because they are weak and stupid and live in the shadow of men and are nothing compared to them, and the Sea because it has always frustrated me, destroying what I have built, washing away what I have left, wiping clean the marks I have made.
The quote reflects the narrator's deep-seated disdain for both women and the sea, portraying them as destructive forces in his life. His view of women is profoundly negative, suggesting that they are inferior and overshadowed by men. This perspective reveals his toxic masculinity and insecurity, seeing women as an enemy instead of acknowledging their strength and individuality.
Similarly, the sea symbolizes unpredictability and loss for the narrator. It represents an uncontrollable force that undermines his efforts and erases his achievements. This hatred signifies a broader theme of struggle against elements beyond one's control, emphasizing the narrator's sense of frustration and helplessness in the face of both women and nature.