The Old Man and the Sea: Symbolism

Symbols are hidden in novels as a character or an idea in order to portray significant meanings in the story. Similar to how a heart is used to symbolize love, the marlin in The Old Man and the Sea is used to symbolize strength. This scenario also holds true when it comes to the old man's dreams and the man that is brought up so many times in the novel and that is Joe DiMaggio.

Both the marlin and Santiago had to provide an abundance of strength throughout the journey. The marlin had to work hard to pull the skiff for long hours, and the old man had to work even harder in order to protect the fish. The marlin was also used to bring out some traits of the old man that would not have otherwise been seen. The courage, respect, and love that Santiago shows towards the marlin is only seen because the marlin was used as a symbol to bring out the best in the old man.

The dreams that continually occurred during the old man's naps served as moments for Santiago to forget what he was going through yet brought up many mixed emotions at the same time. One dream he had frequently consisted of lions roaming on the beach, which provided him with calm, joyous memory. "He waited to see if there would be more lions and he way happy (Hemingway 81)." This dream occurred both in the beginning and end of the novel. Another dream involved mating porpoises because he had witnessed a similar creature earlier that day. However, the most pleasurable dream for the old man was the one where he was taken back to his own bed and would wake up in his own home. This was most likely because this was all her ever thought about and wished for on his long journey. Each dream Santiago had allowed him to step out of his awful reality and symbolized a better time.

The old man's hero, Joe DiMaggio, was used as a symbol of a lighter time and happier thoughts in this deep, depressing novel. Discussing the Yankees always made Santiago so excited because it wasn't just a sport for him; it was a place of hope and happiness.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Characters Cont.

I don't think I have ever read a novel that contains such few characters like that of The Old Man and the Sea. The novel follows Santiago the whole time, and since he is stuck at sea all alone, there is little need to incorporate unnecessary, minor characters. However, I have found that some of the secondary characters aren't even people or aren't really involved in the plot itself. For example, the Marlin is a very important part of the novel, but not necessarily a person. He shows traits of personification which qualify him as being a main character. He acted as a friend towards Santiago, most likely because they were both going through the same struggle between life and death. The marlin pulled the boat along for a great amount of time which created a bond between it and the old man. Santiago once said, "Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer more noble thing than you, brother (Hemingway 92)."  Although the marlin didn't make it back to shore alive, his skeleton was measured to be about eighteen feet long which qualified him as being an honorable catch. Similar to the marlin, Joe DiMaggio was mentioned several times throughout the novel and used as a symbol, but was never truly a part of the action.  He acted as a role model for the old man and provided him with strength to get home.  He even compared himself to DiMaggio by saying, "Do you believe the great DiMaggio would stay with a fish as long as I will stay with this one (Hemingway 68)." Thinking about DiMaggio and the New York Yankees allowed Santiago to take his mind off of what he was really going through.  It was also mentioned several times that Joe DiMaggio and his family were avid fishers. This fact inspired Santiago and kept him hopeful that he would return home safely and someday have the chance to fish alongside his hero.

[Bibiography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Characters

As an apprentice, Manolin studied and learned from the old man. "The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him (Hemingway 10)." There it is plain and simple. Except for the fact that this is Honors English 332 which requires 325 words, so plain and simple doesn't cut it. Anyways, Manolin has been working with Santiago since he was five years old. That is until the young boy's parents forbade him from fishing with the old man because of his inability to catch a fish in eighty-four days, blaming his bad luck. This didn't necessarily stop the two. They would still hang out every day. Not only did they bond over fishing, but they also discussed baseball. Both were Yankees fans and enjoyed recapping the games together. The boy looked at Santiago not only as a teacher, but also as a friend. He once told him, "There are many good fisherman and some great ones. But there is only one you (Hemingway 23)." I can only imagine what the boy was feeling while his friend was lost at sea, but we can figure how the old man felt about Manolin. "I wish I had the boy. To help me and to see this (Hemingway 48)," he admitted. When Santiago finally returned home, the young boy was there to protect and serve him. Manolin tells the old man how much he missed him and promises to fish with the old man again, no matter what his parents have to say about it.

With all the torment and teasing they provided the old man with every morning, the other fisherman could be considered the driving force behind Santiago wanting to travel farther out in the sea in order to catch a fish. It wasn't until the old man returned home from his tough journey that the fishermen were singing a different tune. The all apologized to Santiago after hearing about his deathly obstacles, and even honored him after witnessing the amazing marlin.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Santiago

As the main character of this novel, Santiago is the old man in which the plot revolves around. Described as being a gentle man with eyes the color of the sea (Hemingway 10), Santiago exudes many honorable traits that a great protagonist is known for, including pride, respect, and courage. He is prideful in the work he does, and this is shown through the amount of knowledge and skill that he has acquired for fishing. The old man also loved the young boy, Manolin, enough to teach him the skills of fishing, yet respected him enough when his parents would no longer let them fish together. By the end of the journey and even the novel, Santiago's own strength and drive to survive surprised himself. His journey was a long and tough one, but he was able to to make it thanks to the courage he had all along. Don't let all of these cheesy, girly traits fool you, however. Althouth the other fisherman often teased the old man, it was Santiago who was hardest on himself. He chose to fish out a little farther than usual and worked hard to prove to the others that he could keep up. He might have shown love and courage on the outside, but Santiago was one competitive old man when it came down to it.

Judging by the amount of time and strength he spent fighting off predators, Santiago was pretty protective when it came to his belongings. He was especially defensive when it came to his prized catch, the marlin. "There is no one worthy of eating him from the manner of his behavior and his great dignity (Hemingway 75)," he said. The old man eventually shows a more religious side when the journey takes a tough turn. He prays to God in hopes of a safe return home.


Now let's not forget the number one description for the old man which would be...a Die Hard Yankees Fan. He would check the team's line up and the stats of his favorite player, Joe DiMaggio, every morning. It was even one of the first things he asked about when he returned home. Due to the circumstances, I think "die hard fan" would be quite accurate.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Theme

Most of Ernest Hemingway's novels are known for having a hero and enemy conflict in which the hero dies in the end. However, it looks as if he made an exception for The Old Man and the Sea. It would have been easy to kill off Santiago before he could make it home, but with an ending like that, a whole new theme and a completely different lesson would have been created. In fact, the long journey of life and death struggles for the old man is exactly what the theme of this novel consists of. Not only because it is a larger part of the falling action, but also because it is a major focus and lesson in The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago endures an ongoing fight for life with the marlin for quite some time on his journey. "If you're not tired, fish, you must be very strange (Hemingway 67)," he said.

The theme of a novel is the action in a plot that engages readers more than any other significant event, which is exactly what this three day long journey home does. The old man withstands an awful lot of pain during this trip. Cramps in his hands, pain in his legs, and a stint of nausea/lightheadedness are all obstacles that Santiago faced. Although these medical restrains got to the old man at times, he continued to use his hero, Joe DiMaggio, as his strength to continue. "But I must have confidence and I must be worthy of the great DiMaggio who does all things perfectly even with the pain of the bone spur in his heel (Hemingway 68)," he thought. The old man's struggles did not end with the injuries, however. He continued to have unexplained dreams that at times reassured him, yet scared him at others.

The theme of struggling between life and death that the old man endured was a conflict in and of itself. It would be considered a Man vs. Nature conflict because it is between Santiago and his surroundings.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: History & Society

Because the novel takes place mainly in the ocean, little talk of society and newsworthy events occurred. The old man mentioned nothing about political or historical news, but focused mainly on the latest score of the New York Yankees game. However, by reading between the lines and analyzing the actions made by the main characters, several point of the Cuban society in the 1940's can be found. For example, all of the fishers in the novel were men. Judging by what we know about history, it is most likely that the roles of the household involved the man working and having a career while the woman stayed home cooking, cleaning, and raising the kids. Although women and races were mentioned very little, if at all, in the novel, readers are still able to get an idea of the society and roles due to the actions of the characters.

The struggle endured in The Old Man and the Sea was another great reflection of history. Poverty has always been a large issue in this country, and the novel shows no exceptions of that fact. Apprenticing was also mentioned between the old man and the young boy, Manolin. Learning the tricks of the trade was often passed down generation to generation through mentors. Unlike today, schooling and education wasn't always necessary for some careers. However, this action of learning from the professional is still used today with interns and assistants.

Like I said before, Santiago wasn't much for politics or the latest breaking news. Instead he followed baseball and his favorite player, Joe DiMaggio. "Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio (Hemingway 17)." He would say. With the major role that fishing and baseball played in this novel, it is obvious that Ernest Hemingway was influenced largely by sports. Hemingway was known for being an avid sports fan, and used his knowledge of baseball as a way of timelining this novel. Sports influenced many aspects of The Old Man and the Sea, including the never give up message and Santiago's competitive spirit.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Techniques

Ernest Hemingway uses a number of techniques to reel in readers. Get it, reeling in fish and we are reading The Old Man and the Sea? Hahaha. Jokes aside, Hemingway's ability to incorporate techniques, such as a little tragedy, moments of suspense, and a big miracle, engage readers and continue to entertain. Techniques like these are what keep a plot interesting.

There are several instances in The Old Man and the Sea that Hemingway blends Spanish phrases into his sentences. This is most likely because the novel is set in Cuba, where Spanish is a common speaking language. Salao, a term translated to "the worst kind of unlucky", was used by Manolin's parents to describe the old man (Hemingway 9). He was unable to catch a fish for eighty-four days; therefore, Manolin's parents would not allow him to fish with Santiago anymore. This tragedy was just the beginning for Santiago. When he was finally able to catch the marlin, predators got to it, and the old man ended up having to eat it in order to survive. These sad events and emotions engage the readers and make them feel for the poor old man.

Santiago's grueling journey home lasted three days, and whether or not he would make it was a mystery. The suspense created by this long trip kept readers interested in what would happen. Wondering if the marlin and the old man will make it home safe is what made me never want to put the novel down.

After all the tragedy and suspense is up, there is one thing that every reader loves: a good miracle. One small miracle that Santiago came across was ending his no catch spree. He always stayed positive saying, "Eighty-five is a lucky number (Hemingway 16)." For most of the novel, the ending is very questionable. Will the marlin survive? Will the old man make it home safe? Making it home with little food, water, and strength was no small feat. Santiago would very well be considered the underdog in this novel, so for him to come out on top is a great happy ending.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Why do we read it?

The lesson that this novel teaches is one that is simple enough to be timeless, yet relatable to be interesting. The Old Man and the Sea preaches on practicing your skill, working hard, and never giving up. With all his years of fishing experience, Santiago knows how to handle any situation he might get himself into, even the journey with the marlin. He admits, "Never have I had such a strong fish nor one who acted so strangely. But perhaps he has been hooked many times before and he knows that this is how he should make his fight (Hemingway 48-49)." The old man's drive to continue fishing every day is one that every reader can learn from. Many people enjoy reading this novel because the message is so relatable. The problems that Santiago faces can easily be compared to any situation a reader might have. Santiago's passion for fishing, drive to keep his catch protected, and strength to survive are all great examples to look up to.

Let's be honest, the real reason many people still read this novel today is because they have to. I understand it's an Ernest Hemingway classic, but unless a novel contains wizards or vampires, it might as well be decoration in a library. Because classes, English 332 (cough, cough), assign novels, such as The Old Man and the Sea, to be read, students begrudgingly read through them. I will admit that a great number of classic novels have been lost due to the lack of interest America's youth has in the storylines, leet alone the act of reading itself. However, if I am being honest, the message and plot of The Old Man and the Sea was so vague and simple that I would almost consider it boring. I prefer a novel with a little mystery and drama. I most likely would not have given this book a second glance had I seen it at the bookstore. With that being said, I am glad the novel was assigned to me, therefore I HAD to read it. Now I can sound mature discussing an Ernest Hemingway novel, even if the only reason I read it was because high school English made me.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Time Period-Significance

Fishing was a common career and a way of lie for many families that lived on the coast. It was how they made their living. Set in the 1940's, The Old Man and the Sea discusses a fisherman and the struggles he faces to survive. For Santiago to go eighty-four days without catching a single fish, it would be hard to live. His pay would be very low and his diet would be lacking.

The novel is set at the end of the Great Depression, which is remembered as a time of great celebration and a growth in prosperity. However, I found The Old Man and the Sea to have a dispirited attitude because most of the fisherman and characters in the novel were still struggling to make a living. I created a comparison to help me understand the situation better: Similar to the recession today, some communities are struggling more than others. Judging by the behavior of this novel, the joyous reaction to the end of the depression had yet to reach the coast of Cuba.

One overall theme I found in the novel that holds true to that of the time period is the amount of pride each character had in their jobs. The fisherman took pride in their catch and worked hard every day to improve their fishing skills. Although he didn't have the best luck catching fish, the old man put all his skill and knowledge in every line he threw out into the water. When he encountered his greatest catch yet, Santiago used his knowledge of the trade to figure out the type of fish. "But when he comes to feed, truly hungry, purple stripes show on his sides as on a marlin (Hemingway 72)." The old man was able to identify the marlin just by the shade of its fin. It is obvious that the old man studied his trade and knew what he was doing. It's that type of pride that was not only represented in the novel The Old Man and the Sea, but also in the Americans after the Great Depression.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Hero-Comparison

The hero in The Old Man and the Sea is no different than the heroes of many other novels. In most cases, the character that surpasses every obstacle placed in front of them is usually considered the hero. However, in all of the novels I have read where this scenario holds true, I have never seen a character have quite the drive and perseverance like that of the old man. Santiago is the protagonist who is dealt a number of challenges in the beginning of the novel and is able to accomplish them by the end, which is very heroic. His large amount of pride and hard work allowed him to protect his fish for quite some time and put an end to his no fish streak. Although Santiago was portrayed as being an unlucky old man, it was actually his drive and a little luck that helped him on his journey home.

Like I said before, the hero of this novel can be linked to many others. The best comparison I have found is Forrest, Forrest Gump. Both Forrest and Santiago have obstacles to overcome and people being unsupportive along the way. In fact, Santiago could have used the advice given to Forrest by his mother, "You are no different than anyone else." The old man could have used this encouragement during his eighty-four day streak without a catch because he must have wondered why the other fishermen were having an easier time catching fish. During his journey, Forrest Gump loses his best friend, Jenny, due to the counterculture movement, similar to how the old man loses Manolin, his apprentice, due to his unlucky streak. Both men had a hard time dealing with thesse losses. Santiago even admits, "I wish I had the boy to help me and to see this (Hemingway 48)." An obvious similarity between Forrest and the old man is their love and talent towards fishing. Santiago works hard every day to improve his skills in hopes of catching a fish, and Forrest is able to start a very profitable shrimp boat. However, the most common and meaningful comparison between Santiago and Forrest Gump is that they both successfully return home in the end.

[Bibliography]

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

The Old Man and the Sea: Themes-Human Nature

As an author, Ernest Hemingway is known for incorporating an important moral, or lesson, into every novel he wrote. One reoccurring theme in his novel, The Old Man and the Sea, is never giving up. The old man commonly reminded himself, "Tomorrow is going to be a good day with this current (Hemingway 14)." The novel teaches the lesson of continuing to fight until you get your big break, or in the case of Santiago, your big catch. He showed his drive for fishing by working every day to catch a fish, even if it takes eighty-four days. By never giving up fishing, the old man showed the amount of pride he had for himself and his work. When he finally caught the great marlin, Santiago endured even more struggles. He was on the verge of death due to his lack of food and water. The old man had not planned on the four day fishing trip, especially when the sharks interrupted. The battle of staying alive and fighting off the marlin's predators were just more examples of how Santiago continued to never give up. The friendship-like relationship the old man created with the marlin provided the extra strength that was necessary to make it home. After murdering the fish, Santiago had to remind himself, "You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you love him after (Hemingway15)." During his long journey, the old man even looked to God in hopes of staying alive and not giving up. He promised that he would "say a hundred Our Fathers and a hundred Hail Marys" if he could just give him the strength to stay alive for one more day (Hemingway 87). He eventually found that strength and was able to make it back to the Havana port.

By using a simple theme, such as never give up, Hemingway allows readers to relate to the struggles and characters in the novel. No matter how clear or complicated the issue is, the lessons taught in this novel can be useful.

[Biography]

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