term paper on the old man and the sea

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• Introduction

Analysis and reception

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The Old Man and the Sea

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The Old Man and the Sea , short heroic novel by Ernest Hemingway , published in 1952 and awarded the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was his last major work of fiction. The story centres on an aging fisherman who engages in an epic battle to catch a giant marlin .

The central character is an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago, who has not caught a fish for 84 days. The family of his apprentice, Manolin, has forced the boy to leave the old fisherman, though Manolin continues to support him with food and bait. Santiago is a mentor to the boy, who cherishes the old man and the life lessons he imparts. Convinced that his luck must change, Santiago takes his skiff far out into the deep waters of the Gulf Stream , where he soon hooks a giant marlin . With all his great experience and strength, he struggles with the fish for three days, admiring its strength, dignity, and faithfulness to its identity; its destiny is as true as Santiago’s as a fisherman. He finally reels the marlin in and lashes it to his boat.

However, Santiago’s exhausting effort goes for naught. Sharks are drawn to the tethered marlin, and, although Santiago manages to kill a few, the sharks eat the fish, leaving behind only its skeleton. After returning to the harbour, the discouraged Santiago goes to his home to sleep. In the meantime, others see the skeleton tied to his boat and are amazed. A concerned Manolin is relieved to find Santiago alive, and the two agree to go fishing together.

The Old Man and the Sea contains many of the themes that preoccupied Hemingway as a writer and as a man. The routines of life in a Cuban fishing village are evoked in the opening pages with a characteristic economy of language. The stripped-down existence of the fisherman Santiago is crafted in a spare, elemental style that is as eloquently dismissive as a shrug of the old man’s powerful shoulders. With age and luck now against him, Santiago knows he must row out “beyond all people,” away from land and into the Gulf Stream , where one last drama would be played out, in an empty arena of sea and sky.

Hemingway was famously fascinated with ideas of men proving their worth by facing and overcoming the challenges of nature. When the old man hooks a marlin longer than his boat, he is tested to the limits as he works the line with bleeding hands in an effort to bring it close enough to harpoon . Through his struggle, Santiago demonstrates the ability of the human spirit to endure hardship and suffering in order to win. It is also his deep love and knowledge of the sea, in its impassive cruelty and beneficence, that allows him to prevail. The essential physicality of the story—the smells of tar and salt and fish blood, the cramp and nausea and blind exhaustion of the old man, the terrifying death spasms of the great fish—is set against the ethereal qualities of dazzling light and water, isolation, and the swelling motion of the sea. And through it all, the narrative is constantly tugging, unreeling a little more, and then pulling again, all in tandem with the old man’s struggle. It is a story that demands to be read in a single sitting.

The Old Man and the Sea was an immediate success and came to be regarded as one of Hemingway’s finest works. It was cited when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. A hugely popular film adaptation starring Spencer Tracy was released in 1958.

The Old Man and the Sea

By ernest hemingway.

Hemingway explores perseverance, pride, and man's struggle with nature through Santiago's gritty battle with the marlin in "The Old Man and the Sea."

Main Themes

• Perseverance: Santiago endures physical pain and hardship, refusing to give up.
• Man vs. Nature: Santiago’s struggle with the marlin highlights man’s conflict with nature.
• Pride and Dignity: Santiago’s pride drives him to prove his worth despite his hardships.
• Simple, direct prose: Hemingway uses straightforward prose to reflect Santiago’s simple, resilient life.
• Sparse dialogue: Minimal but impactful conversations emphasize isolation and personal struggle.
• Symbolic imagery: Hemingway infuses rich symbols to deepen the novel’s meaning without overloading the narrative.
• The Marlin: The giant fish represents Santiago’s ultimate challenge and worthy opponent.
• The Sea: The sea symbolizes both a life-giving force and an indifferent, uncontrollable nature.
• The Lions: They reflect Santiago’s lost youth and vitality and his yearning for strength.

The novel begins with Santiago, an old fisherman who has gone eighty-four days without catching anything. He is determined to break this streak despite his failing reputation.

Santiago hooks a giant marlin and endures a three-day struggle at sea. His resolve is tested as the fish drags him farther into the ocean.

After Santiago finally catches the marlin, sharks devour it on his return. Though defeated, Santiago maintains his pride, accepting loss with dignity.

Continue down for complete analysis to The Old Man and the Sea

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

Hemingway’s unique writing style is exemplified by his short, concise sentences and a factual approach to the events he portrays. Within the novella, a reader will come across complex themes of strength and perseverance, as well as symbols of perfection and age, all addressed directly.

Ernest Hemingway’s “ The Old Man and the Sea ” is a timeless tale of endurance, pride, and the delicate balance between man and nature. Through Santiago’s solitary struggle against the marlin, Hemingway explores several profound themes.

Pride and Nobility

One of the most significant themes is pride and nobility. Santiago’s pride is not the kind that leads to arrogance but rather a deep, personal dignity. He is proud of his abilities as a fisherman, though he doesn’t flaunt them. When he sets out alone to catch the marlin, it is not out of vanity but out of a desire to prove that he still possesses the strength and skill of his youth. His struggle with the marlin becomes an act of nobility, not just in fighting a worthy opponent but in how he carries himself throughout the battle. Even when the sharks devour the fish, Santiago remains noble, accepting defeat with grace. His loss does not diminish his pride; it is affirmed by his endurance in the face of overwhelming odds.

Perseverance and Determination

The theme of perseverance and determination is central to the novel. Santiago’s unwavering resolve to catch the marlin after eighty-four days without success reflects his relentless spirit. Even when his hands bleed, his back ached, and his body weakens, Santiago does not give up. This perseverance is a physical act and a testament to his mental and emotional resilience. He knows the risks and the pain that await him, but he pushes forward because it’s who he is—a man who endures. His struggle symbolizes human perseverance and the drive to keep going even when faced with impossible challenges.

Man vs. Nature

Hemingway also delves deeply into the theme of man vs. nature. Santiago’s battle with the marlin is a microcosm of this larger conflict. Nature is at once Santiago’s provider and his adversary. The sea, which he loves and respects, can be cruel, as seen when the sharks ravage his prized catch. Yet Santiago never curses the sea or the fish. Instead, he views them as equals in the grand scheme of life. His struggle with the marlin becomes a kind of communion with nature—a test of wills, where neither side is evil, but the natural order binds both. Ultimately, nature proves indifferent to Santiago’s desires, but his respect for it remains unwavering.

Youth and Old Age

In his old age, Santiago reflects on the strength and vitality he possessed in his youth. His dreams of lions on the beaches of Africa symbolize this lost youth and the vigor that came with it. While he can no longer match the physical prowess of his younger days, his wisdom and experience guide him through the battle with the marlin. The contrast between Santiago and his young apprentice, Manolin, highlights this tension between youth and age. Manolin represents hope and the future, while Santiago embodies the knowledge and endurance of old age. Their relationship shows that while youth brings strength, old age offers a deeper understanding of life’s struggles.

Finally, suffering is a theme that runs through the entire novel. Santiago suffers in silence, both in his poverty and his isolation. His hands are scarred, his body is frail, and the younger fishermen often dismiss him. Yet, it is his ability to endure suffering that defines him. The physical pain he experiences while fighting the marlin—his cramped hand, his aching back, his exhaustion—mirrors the mental and emotional pain of his long life. Like DiMaggio, who played through the pain of his bone spur, Santiago pushes through his suffering, driven by a sense of duty and pride. His suffering is not in vain, for it is through this pain that he achieves a sense of accomplishment, even in defeat.

Memory and its power over the present and future are important in “ The Old Man and the Sea. “ While Santiago navigates the Gulf of Mexico, he often becomes distracted by thoughts of the past. He can recall the strong young man he was and believes that some of that strength should still exist inside him. There are moving moments in the novella when Santiago thinks back to one specific memory that doesn’t seem to fade. He recalls the time he spent on a turtle fishing boat along the coast of Africa. While there, he saw lions playing on the beach. He isn’t sure why, but this image continues to come to mind. It ends the novel.

Key Moments in The Old Man and the Sea

• Santiago’s Struggle with Bad Luck : The novella begins with Santiago having gone 84 days without catching a fish, which introduces his struggle against misfortune and establishes the theme of perseverance.
• Santiago Sets Out Alone : On the 85th day, Santiago decides to fish far out in the Gulf Stream, marking the start of his journey and symbolizing his determination to break his streak of bad luck.
• Hooking the Marlin : Santiago hooks a massive marlin, which begins an intense, multi-day battle between the old man and the fish, symbolizing the struggle between man and nature.
• Santiago’s Endurance : For three days, Santiago battles exhaustion, pain, and hunger, showcasing his incredible endurance and the theme of personal triumph over hardship.
• The Marlin’s Surrender : Santiago finally harpoons the marlin, achieving victory, which represents the culmination of his hard-fought struggle and the pride it brings.
• Sharks Attack the Marlin : On the way back to shore, Santiago fends off sharks that attack the marlin. Despite his efforts, they devour the fish, leaving only its skeleton, symbolizing the futility of his struggle and loss.
• Santiago Returns Home : Exhausted and defeated, Santiago returns to shore with the marlin’s skeleton tied to his boat. Though he lost the fish, his perseverance and dignity remain intact.
• Recognition of Santiago’s Struggle : In the end, the villagers, including the boy Manolin, recognize Santiago’s heroic efforts, cementing the themes of honor, resilience, and the bittersweet nature of victory.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

Ernest Hemingway’s style is distinct for its simplicity and directness. Hemingway is best known for his “Iceberg Theory,” or the theory of omission, where much of the meaning is hidden beneath the surface of the text. In this novella, the language is sparse and unadorned. Hemingway writes with short, declarative sentences that reflect Santiago’s straightforward worldview. He strips away unnecessary complexity, focusing on the core of Santiago’s struggle, leaving much for the reader to infer. For instance, when Santiago catches the marlin, Hemingway describes the event with precise, economical prose: “Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?” The simplicity of the language mirrors Santiago’s elemental battle with the forces of nature. The novella’s style is also highly rhythmic, with a repetitive quality that mimics the ebb and flow of the sea, the monotony of Santiago’s days on the water, and his enduring perseverance. With this minimalist approach, the reader is not bogged down by ornate language or complex structure.

The tone in “ The Old Man and the Sea ” is meditative, respectful, and often melancholic. Hemingway treats Santiago’s struggle with dignity and reverence, highlighting the nobility of his battle against the marlin and the natural world. The tone frequently shifts to a somber mood, particularly as Santiago realizes the futility of his efforts once the sharks attack his prized marlin. While Santiago’s journey is ultimately a tragedy, the tone remains respectful, portraying him as a hero of immense strength and endurance. This respectful tone elevates Santiago’s struggle, making it not just about a fish but a larger reflection of human existence, purpose, and pride.

In “ The Old Man and the Sea ,” Hemingway’s use of figurative language is sparse but impactful, often enhancing the novella’s symbolic depth. Similes and metaphors are frequently employed to compare Santiago and the natural world. For example, the marlin is described as “beautiful and noble and full of skill,” reflecting Santiago’s qualities. This parallelism between man and fish underscores their shared nobility and the mutual respect that forms during their battle. Personification is also prominent, especially in Santiago’s relationship with the sea, which he calls “la mar” and views as a woman capable of nurturing and cruelty. This personification deepens Santiago’s spiritual connection to nature, emphasizing his dependence on the sea for sustenance and purpose.

In “ The Old Man and the Sea ,” Ernest Hemingway employs several potent symbols that deepen the narrative’s exploration of human struggle, perseverance, and resilience.

The sharks represent the inevitable forces of destruction that follow success. After Santiago catches the marlin, his victory is tainted as the sharks devour his prize. Despite Santiago’s courage and skill, the sharks’ attack emphasizes that nature is generous and ruthless. The old man fights them with everything he has, but their destructive power prevails, symbolizing the inescapable losses accompanying life’s most significant victories.

The sea is more than just a setting; it is a living entity that reflects Santiago’s relationship with the world. At times, the sea is nurturing, providing him with fish to sustain himself, while at other times, it is punishing, putting him through brutal trials. The sea symbolizes life’s unpredictable and uncontrollable nature, where moments of calm are interrupted by periods of hardship. Santiago’s respect for the sea, often referred to as “la mar” in the feminine, underscores his deep connection to the natural world, a relationship marked by reverence and confrontation.

The marlin serves as the most prominent symbol in the novel. It represents the ultimate challenge, a test of Santiago’s endurance and skill. The fish is not just an opponent but also a reflection of Santiago himself. The old man sees the marlin as a noble creature worthy of respect, and their struggle becomes one of mutual recognition. Santiago and the marlin endure suffering, and the fish’s defeat feels bittersweet, symbolizing the fine line between triumph and loss.

Hemingway’s use of DiMaggio as a symbol is telling. DiMaggio represents perseverance through physical pain, as Santiago often recalls how the baseball player continued to excel despite a bone spur in his heel. This is paralleled by Santiago’s suffering, particularly when his left hand cramps during his battle with the marlin. As DiMaggio plays through his handicap, Santiago fights, even when his body fails him. Both figures show that greatness is achieved not through the absence of pain but in the ability to endure and transcend it.

The mast of Santiago’s skiff is another significant symbol, particularly in how it mirrors Christ’s crucifixion. When Santiago returns to shore after his long and exhausting battle, he carries the mast on his shoulder, much like Christ carrying the cross. This imagery underscores Santiago’s suffering and sacrifice, framing his struggle as not just physical but spiritual. The burdensome mast symbolizes the weight of Santiago’s hardships and the dignity with which he bears them.

Finally, the lions are a recurring symbol in Santiago’s dreams, representing his lost youth, strength, and idealism. As a young man, Santiago saw lions on the beaches of Africa, and their image has stayed with him ever since. The lions symbolize vitality and freedom, qualities that Santiago longs for as he grows older. In his dreams, the lions offer him comfort, a reminder of a time when he was strong and fearless. By the novel’s end, as Santiago dreams of the lions again, they symbolize a peaceful return to his former glory and a final reconciliation with his life’s struggles.

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78 The Old Man and the Sea Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the old man and the sea topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting the old man and the sea topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about the old man and the sea, ❓ old man and the sea essay questions.

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• The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway In The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway reveals his conception of heroism not as a measure of the glory and recognition his character receives, but instead in the determination of the struggle.
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A Thematic Study of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea

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The Old Man and The Sea‎

Introduction the old man and the sea  ‎, summary of the old man and the sea  ‎, major themes in the old man and the sea  ‎, major characters in the old man and the sea  ‎, writing style of the old man and the sea  ‎ ‎, analysis of literary devices in the old man and the sea  ‎, related posts:, post navigation.

The Old Man and the Sea

By ernest hemingway, the old man and the sea essay questions.

Describe Hemingway's portrayal of Santiago's relationship with the sea.

Hemingway focuses on the connections between Santiago and his natural environment: the fish, birds, and stars are all his brothers or friends; he has the heart of a turtle, eats turtle eggs for strength; anddrinks shark liver oil for health. This connection with the sea and its creatures helps Santiago in the midst of his great tragedy. For Santiago, success and failure are two equal facets of the same existence. They are transitory forms which capriciously arrive and depart without affecting the underlying unity between himself and nature. As long as he focuses on this unity and sees himself as part of nature rather than as an external antagonist competing with it, he cannot be defeated by whatever misfortunes befall him.

Is Santiago a prideful man? Why or why not?

Hemingway's treatment of pride in The Old Man and the Sea is ambivalent. A heroic man like Santiago should have pride in his actions, and as Santiago shows us, "humility was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride" (14). At the same time, though, it is apparently Santiago's pride which presses him to travel dangerously far out into the sea, "beyond all people in the world," to catch the marlin (50). While he loved the marlin and called him brother, Santiago admits to killing it for pride, his blood stirred by battle with such a noble and worthy antagonist. Some have interpreted the loss of the marlin as the price Santiago had to pay for his pride in traveling out so far in search of such a catch. Contrarily, one could argue that this pride was beneficial as it allowed Santiago an edifying challenge worthy of his heroism. In the end, Hemingway suggests that pride in a job well done, even if pride drew one unnecessarily into the situation, is a positive trait.

How does Santiago embody Hemingway's ideals for manhood?

Hemingway's ideal of manhood is nearly inseparable from the ideal of heroism. To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity: to not succumb to suffering, to accept one's duty without complaint and, most importantly, to display a maximum of self-control. The representation of femininity, the sea, is characterized expressly by its caprice and lack of self-control; "if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them" (30). The representation of masculinity, the marlin, is described as 'great,' 'beautiful,' 'calm,' and 'noble,' and Santiago steels him against his pain by telling himself, "suffer like a man. Or a fish," referring to the marlin (92). In Hemingway's ethical universe, Santiago shows us not only how to live life heroically but in a way befitting a man.

In your opinion, is Santiago successful as a fisherman? Why or why not?

Hemingway draws a distinction between two different types of success: outer, material success and inner, spiritual success. While Santiago clearly lacks the former, the import of this lack is eclipsed by his possession of the later. One way to describe Santiago's story is as a triumph of indefatigable spirit over exhaustible material resources. As noted above, the characteristics of such a spirit are those of heroism and manhood. That Santiago can end the novella undefeated after steadily losing his hard-earned, most valuable possession is a testament to the privileging of inner success over outer success.

Discuss Santiago's obsession with being a worthy adversary for the marlin.

Being heroic and manly are not merely qualities of character which one possesses or does not. One must constantly demonstrate one's heroism and manliness through actions conducted with dignity. Interestingly, worthiness cannot be conferred upon oneself. Santiago is obsessed with proving his worthiness to those around him. He had to prove himself to the boy: "the thousand times he had proved it mean nothing. Now he was proving it again. Each time was a new time and he never thought about the past when he was doing it" (66). And he had to prove himself to the marlin: "I'll kill him....in all his greatness and glory. Although it is unjust. But I will show him what a man can do and what a man endures" (66). A heroic and manly life is not, then, one of inner peace and self-sufficiency; it requires constant demonstration of one's worthiness through noble action.

How does Hemingway imply that Santiago is a Christ-like figure?

Manolin has an almost religious devotion to Santiago, underscored when Manolin begs Santiago's pardon for his not fishing with the old man anymore. Manolin says, "It was Papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him," to which Santiago replies, "I know... It is quite normal. He hasn't much faith" (10). Manolin's father forced his son to switch to a more successful boat after 40 days had passed without a catch for Santiago; this is the amount of time Jesus wandered in the desert, tempted by Satan. Just as Christ resisted the temptation of the devil, Santiago resists the temptation of giving in to his exhaustion as he battles the marlin. "It was a great temptation to rest in the bow and let the fish make one circle by himself without recovering any line." But he is committed to beating the fish, to proving his strength is more steadfast, thinking, "He'll be up soon and I can last. You have to last. Don't even speak of it."

What is Santiago's view of his own sinfulness?

Throughout this final section, Santiago repeatedly apologizes to the marlin in a way that provides another way to read Santiago's sin. He says, "Half fish... Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went out so far. I ruined us both" (115). Santiago's transgression is no longer his killing of the fish, but going out too far in the ocean, "beyond all people in the world" (50). While the former sin helped account for the inescapable misery of the human condition, the latter focuses instead on avoidable misery brought about by intentional action. Santiago chose to go out so far; he did not need to do so, but in doing so he must surrender his prize, the marlin, to the jealous sea.

This understanding of Santiago's sin is strange because it seems to separate man from nature in a way which contradicts the rest of the novella. Going out too far is an affront against nature similar to the hubristic folly of Greek tragedy; he has courted disaster through his own pride. Nowhere previously in the novel was this apparent, though. The sea seemed to welcome him, providing him company and food for his expedition. There was no resistance from nature to his activities, except perhaps the sharks, but these were never made to be nature's avengers. This reading of Santiago's sin thus seems very problematic.

Describe the important aspects of Santiago's relationship with Manolin.

The relationship between Santiago and Manolin can be summed up in one sentence: "The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him" (10). Manolin is Santiago's apprentice, but their relationship is not restricted to business alone. Manolin idolizes Santiago but the object of this idolization is not only the once great though presently failed fisherman; it is an idolization of ideals. This helps explain Manolin's unique, almost religious, devotion to the old man, underscored when Manolin begs Santiago's pardon for his not fishing with the old man anymore. Manolin says, "It was Papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him," to which Santiago replies, "I know... It is quite normal. He hasn't much faith" (10).

Despite the clear hierarchy of this teacher/student relationship, Santiago does stress his equality with the boy. When Manolin asks to buy the old man a beer, Santiago replies, "Why not?... Between fisherman" (11). And when Manolin asks to help Santiago with his fishing, Santiago replies, "You are already a man" (12). By demonstrating that Santiago has little more to teach the boy, this equality foreshadows the impending separation of the two friends, and also indicates that this will not be a story about a young boy learning from an old man, but a story of an old man learning the unique lessons of the autumn of life.

Discuss the importance of the sense of sight to the characters in the novella.

Hemingway peppers the novella with numerous references to sight. We are told, for instance, that Santiago has uncannily good eyesight for a man of his age and experience, while Manolin's new employer is nearly blind. When Manolin notices this, Santiago replies simply, "I am a strange old man" (14). Given the analogy between Santiago's eyes and the sea, one suspects that his strangeness in this regard has something to do with his relationship to the sea. This connection, though, is somewhat problematic as it might suggest that Santiago would have success as a fisherman.

Santiago's statement that his eyes adjust to the sun during different parts of the day furnishes another example of the importance of sight and visual imagery in the novella. Santiago says, "All my life the early sun has hurt my eyes, he thought. Yet they are still good. In the evening I can look straight into it without getting the blackness. It has more force in the evening too. But in the morning it is just painful" (33). Given the likening of natural time cycles to human age, e.g. September as the autumn of life, it is plausible to read this passage as a statement of the edifying power of age. While it is difficult to find one's way in the morning of youth, this task becomes easier when done by those who have lived through the day into the evening of life.

How is the figure of Joe DiMaggio used to emphasize Santiago's respect for nature?

As he struggles against the marlin despite the pain he suffers, Santiago recalls the figure of Joe DiMaggio, identified at the beginning of the novella as a heroic paragon. "I must have confidence," thought Santiago, "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" (68). It is strange, though, that immediately after valorizing DiMaggio, Santiago immediately diminishes the baseball player's greatness by thinking that the pain of a bone spur could not be as bad as the pain of the spur of a fighting cock. He even concludes that "man is not much beside the great birds and beasts. Still I would rather be that beast down there in the darkness of the sea" (68). Nature, and the marlin especially, is privileged above even the greatest exemplars of human endurance.

The Old Man and the Sea Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Old Man and the Sea is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

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The Old Man and the Sea, Part 2

Worthiness is an important themes in the second part of the story, Being heroic and manly are not merely qualities of character which one possesses or does not. One must constantly demonstrate one's heroism and manliness through actions conducted...

Describe santiago

Santiago is the protagonist of the novella. He is an old fisherman in Cuba who, at the beginning of the book, has not caught anything for eighty-four days. The novella follows Santiago's quest for the great catch that will save his career....

Study Guide for The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea study guide contains a biography of Ernest Hemingway, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Old Man and the Sea
• The Old Man and the Sea Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

• Hemingway’s Fight with Old Age
• A Different Outlook on Christian Symbolism in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea
• Santiago: Transcending Heroism
• Chasing Fish: Comparing The Ultimate Goals Found in "The Old Man and The Sea" And "Dances with Wolves"
• Hemingway the Absurdist

Lesson Plan for The Old Man and the Sea

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Old Man and the Sea
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Old Man and the Sea Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Old Man and the Sea

• Introduction

The Old Man & The Sea: Symbolism, Meaning, and Summary

• November 25, 2016
• Jennifer Mendez

What is the The Old Man and The Sea about? Originally published in 1952, The Old Man and The Sea is a short novel written by Ernest Hemingway…and it is rich with symbolism! Regarded as one of his most famous works, this story is read in high schools all over America. What began as a simple story about an aging fisherman, turned into something far more meaningful .

Summary & Interpretation of The Old Man & The Sea

Ernest Hemingway wrote The Old Man & The Sea during a time when his career was on the decline. It was immediately regarded as a classic. Although a short story, it is jampacked with deeper meaning. It isn’t a merely a story about an aging fisherman. It is a story about meeting goals, and meeting your fate. Let’s dissect it:

Synopsis of The Old & and The Sea

The story opens with Santiago, an experienced fishermen who has gone 84 days without catching a single fish. He is regarded as so unlucky that Manolin, his young apprentice, has been forbidden to sail with him.

On the 85th day of his unlucky streak, Santiago heads to the Gulf Stream, sets his lines, and has his bait taken by a Marlin. Santiago finds himself pulled by the Marlin, and two days and nights pass with him still holding onto the line. Despite his excruciating pain, Santiago has a soft spot for this Marlin, often calling him brother. He even states that no one will get to eat the fish.

On the third day, Santiago finally stabs the Marlin with his harpoon, and straps it to the side of his boat, before heading home. The blood from the fish calls the sharks, who then cause Santiago to lose his weapon. Soon, the sharks eat the majority of the Marlin, and Santiago proclaims that they have killed his dreams.

How does The Old Man And The Sea End?

He returns to shore, where everyone admires the carcass—18 feet from nose to tail. Santaiago takes no pride in this. Instead, he drinks coffee, promises Manolin to fish together once again, and returns to sleep. He dreams of his youth, of lions on an African beach.

Symbolism & Meaning In THE OLD MAN & THE SEA

Symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea is largely attributed to Hemingway’s life as well as what is commonly referred to as “the human condition” (e.g. what it means to be human). Both of which make The Old Man & the Sea ‘s symbolism worth reading into. Here are some motifs & themes from The Old Man & The Sea

• Santiago carries his mast back to shore after his Marlin encounter. The way in which he carries it signifies the time when Jesus was crucified and carried the cross. “Then he shouldered the mast and started to climb” (Hemingway, 121).
• The Shovel-Nosed Sharks that eat the Marlin are said to be literary critics. Hemingway found them irritating, always bashing writers, without creating anything themselves.
• The sea itself is symbolic. It hides important things from Santiago, like the Marlin. When it finally gives it to him, Santiago must fight to keep it. The sea is life. Life hides things from us, only to reveal them later.
• Manolin is love an compassion, as well as the circle of life.  Despite everything, Manolin loves Santiago, and shows him love and compassion, like checking up on him when he arrived back with a Marlin carcass. But more than that, he is there to replace Santiago’s glory days at some point.
• For Santiago, lions are symbols of his youth on the African beach. It is his youth that he wants the most, now that he’s getting older. This sends the point across that he might be too old to fish now.

The symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea offers a profound exploration of resilience, struggle, and the cyclical nature of life. Santiago’s journey and his encounters with various elements symbolize broader aspects of the human condition, such as the inevitability of aging and the relentless pursuit of dreams despite overwhelming odds. Hemingway’s rich use of symbolism, from Santiago’s crucifix-like bearing of the mast to the portrayal of the sea as a concealer and revealer of life’s challenges, deepens the reader’s understanding of human perseverance and the undying spirit of hope. Through this, Hemingway not only reflects on his own life but also provides a timeless commentary on the essence of human existence.

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Pa. man dies after being rescued from ocean at Jersey Shore

• Published: Sep. 23, 2024, 6:58 a.m.

Water rescue authorities in Avon-by-the-Sea on Sept. 22, 2024. Rescuers pulled three people from the surf off the Washington Avenue beach, one who died. (Photo by Caroline Shea)

• Kevin Shea | For NJ.com

A 55-year-old Pennsylvania man died Sunday evening after being pulled from the ocean waters off Avon-by-the-Sea, borough police said.

Rescue swimmers saved two other people who were in distress in the water, Avon police Capt. Tony Pecelli said.

Police did not immediately identify the victim, who was from Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

The incident started on the Washington Avenue beach, the southern most beach in the Monmouth County town, next to the Shark River Inlet. Police and rescue authorities responded to a 6:34 p.m. report of several swimmers needing assistance, Pecelli said.

Rescue swimmers brought two to shore who were then taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

At 6:46 p.m., rescuers found a third person submerged in the nearby inlet, and brought him to shore and began life-saving efforts. He was also taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Pecelli said.

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The Jersey Shore had strong, sizable waves and surf all weekend, and beaches were red flagged, meaning no swimming. Most Jersey Shore beaches are without full-time lifeguards after Labor Day weekend.

Kevin Shea may be reached at [email protected]

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Mothers pay tribute to 'beautiful' children who drowned off Bournemouth beach

The family of Joe Abbess, 17, said he was a "fabulous young man" and are now campaigning to improve lessons for schoolchildren on sea safety. The mother of Sunnah Khan, 12, said "her smile lit up a room".

Tuesday 24 September 2024 13:15, UK

The mothers of two children who drowned in Bournemouth have paid tributes to them at the start of an inquest into their deaths.

Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess, 17, died after they were thought to have been caught in a riptide next to the pier at the Dorset seaside resort on 31 May last year.

Eight other people were treated by paramedics.

At Dorset Coroner's Court in Bournemouth on Tuesday the families of the pair spoke about their loss.

Joe's mother Vanessa said the family have been "devastated" by the loss of their "generous, loving, caring, hardworking and funny" son.

She said the trainee chef at Southampton Football Club was "a wonderful son, brother and friend and we are all devastated by his death, he is greatly missed".

In her statement to the inquest, Ms Abbess described receiving a call from her son's friend, Nieve who "sounded very panicked and said there had been an incident in the sea involving Joe".

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"She [Nieve] said there were lifeguards and that they were trying to get Joe and Tom out of the water. She sounded hysterical," she said.

Another friend, Anna, also called Ms Abbess to say "Joe was in the sea when the waves got crazy and that the alarm had been raised".

Later a hospital consultant rang to tell her they "couldn't do any more for Joe". She added: "I was devastated and so shocked at this news, I fell to my knees and sobbed, I was on my own and utterly heartbroken".

The inquest also heard from Stephanie Williams who described her daughter Sunnah as "kind, funny, reliable, smart and incredibly beautiful".

"At her core Sunnah was kind, funny, reliable, smart and incredibly beautiful. Her smile lit up a room and her laugh was infectious.

"She cared about so many people and would do anything for her family and friends. She was a force of nature, to know her was to be truly lucky. We have missed her and will continue to miss her for the rest of our lives."

What is a riptide or rip current?

Rips are strong currents running out to sea which can quickly drag people away from the shoreline and out to deeper water, the RNLI explains.

They can reach up to 4-5mph, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer.

They are a major cause of accidental drowning on beaches across the globe. In the UK, over 60% of RNLI lifeguard incidents involve rip currents.

They can be difficult to spot but can often be identified by a channel of churning, choppy water or debris on the sea’s surface.

The RNLI advises that if you do get caught in a rip current to stay calm. If you can, stand up and do not try to swim. If you cannot stand, swim parallel to the beach and raise your hand and shout for help.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Ms Abbess said the family was campaigning for improved education on sea safety in schools working with the RLSS UK (Royal Life Saving Society) in Joe and Sunnah's memory.

"Joe always cared for others, so we want to do this for him," adding that "we would like to see more education within schools about safe open-water swimming" and "knowledge of what to do in an emergency".

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On Monday, coroner Rachael Griffin ruled a pleasure cruiser was not involved in a "causative or contributory" way following the deaths.

Dorset Belle, a pleasure cruiser that ran trips from Bournemouth Pier, was impounded and a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the deaths.

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But after consulting an expert, Dorset Police decided the boat's movement did not contribute to creating dangerous sea conditions.

The force said the man would face no further action.