The Old Man and the Sea: Values-Attitudes-Perspective

Many authors find writing inspiration in events they have witnessed or researched. In the case of Ernest Hemingway, there is no doubt that personal values and pursuits were portrayed in novels, such as The Old Man and the Sea. Although he was best known for his novels and accomplished awards, Hemingway was also recognized by the public for the activities he enjoyed outside of his career. It was no surprise for him to be seated front row of an arena watching una corrida de toros, or a Spanish bull fight, because he was an avid sports fan. The competitive aesthetic and hard work that comes with sports was represented several times throughout the novel, The Old Man and the Sea. For example, Santiago, the old man, worked eighty-four days without catching a single fish (Hemingway 8). However, he continued to wake up early every morning and trail off in his skiff in hopes of catching a great fish. Such dedication can be an example of the popular sports sayings "never give up" and "practice makes perfect." These values are installed in every athlete, no matter what sport they play. Santiago's dedication to his craft not only showed his driven personality, but also the competitive attitude he had against the other fisherman. Most days the old man would be the only fisherman returning home without a single catch, and the others would have snide remarks to make. Santiago never replied to their comments, which shows how respectable he is. His competitiveness made him get up every morning to compete against others to bring home the greatest fish. He also showed this trait in his struggle with the marlin. He was on the egde of life and death, but he felt the need to compete for life with the fish (Hemingway 116). Hemingway was able to incorporate his love of sports into the values and attitudes of his 1952 novel, The Old Man and the Sea.

This novel was narrated in a third person perspective, which was nice because all sides of the plot and characters were given.

[Biography]

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.