The best connection between the men of the whaleship Essex and the audience Walker is addressing is that both have experienced variations of fear.
This choice reflects the shared human experience of confronting different forms of fear and adversity, whether it be the fear faced by the crew of the Essex as they encountered danger on the high seas, or the various fears experienced by the audience in their own lives. The theme of fear and its manifestations resonates across both groups, making it a compelling connection.