There are many books and stories which are dedicated to people’s journeys through difficult times and their unique capacity to overcome struggles, one of them is Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea. The book was the last published during the author’s lifetime, and some critics believe that it was his reflection on the topics of death and the meaning of life (Cain 117). This short novel has since been recognized as one of the best works of the author and remains popular among readers worldwide to this day. The author writes about Santiago, an old man who leads a solitary life, and a boy who spends time with him named Manolin, whom he taught to fish.
Santiago’s sole occupation is fishing, but for the past eighty-four days, he has not managed to catch anything. In the novel, Hemingway explores the themes of human persistence and true friendship, which are conveyed through Santiago’s brave adventure and his relationship with Manolin, he also utilizes symbolism as the primary literary device.
The main character is a man who devotes all of his time and efforts to fishing, which constitutes his passion. Moreover, it allows Santiago to understand that he is still energetic and has not lost his skills. His old age does not affect him as long as he ventures into the unknown, spends days at sea, and tests his abilities to ensure that he remains capable of performing complicated tasks. It is vital for Santiago’s well-being which is evident from the following phrase, “fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive” (Hemingway 68).
In other words, fishing is the source of energy that keeps the main character not only physically fit by providing him with exercise and necessary nutrients but also mentally, giving Santiago a chance to prove himself. On the other hand, it poses a risk to his life, which can end at any moment when he is alone at sea. Santiago does not stop fishing even when he faces a long period of bad luck because it is his true calling.
Moreover, Santiago has a philosophical view of the world, which rests on the premise that in nature, only those who persevere survive, and fishing helps him establish himself as the conqueror. He holds a belief that life is a struggle where the strongest dominate, but at the same time, Santiago is respectful of his opponents. For instance, during his fight with the marlin, the fish which drags him for two days, he pronounces the words which demonstrate his attitude to it, “You are killing me… But you have a right to” (Hemingway 58). He recognizes his adversary as his equal and even calls it his brother, which shows that Santiago and the marlin have much in common. Therefore, Hemingway depicts both Santiago and the marlin as free, independent, and worthy of each other and who participate in a fair battle where every party invests all of their efforts in winning it.
Nevertheless, the fact that Santiago manages to kill the marlin and then safely come back home while countering the attack of sharks along the way becomes a testament to human perseverance and spirit. As it was mentioned before, the main character acknowledges life as a constant struggle, and fishing for him represents the way he can experience it and test his abilities. Despite having wounded hands after tightly holding on to a line, he is determined to accomplish his goal of killing the marlin. Over the course of two days, he beats his weaknesses, and in the final moment, he takes “all his pain and… his strength and his long-gone pride” (Hemingway 58).
This scene serves as a metaphor for people’s unlimited potential to persist in the most challenging situations and employ all of their force to overcome them. Fishing is Santiago’s calling and the purpose of life, and this forces him not to retreat. Thus, with this book, Hemingway wanted to remind his readers that they are capable of attaining any goal in life, especially if they do what they love the most.
Another theme explored in the novel is true friendship, which Santiago and Manolin demonstrate through their relationship based on a genuine interest in each other. The boy has parents, but he still prefers to spend time with the old man whom he loves because Santiago taught him how to fish (Hemingway 2). Moreover, Manolin is a compassionate person who, despite the fact that Santiago is old and leads a secluded from other people’s life, still finds him interesting.
There are certain scenes in the book which show that the boy is concerned about the old man. For instance, he tries to care for Santiago by bringing him food and putting a blanket over his shoulders to ensure he stays warm (Hemingway 8). Although, the old man rarely demonstrates his emotions, when he ventures into the sea and is alone in his skiff, he says, “I wish the boy were here” (Hemingway 34). Manolin views Santiago as his teacher who is experienced and knowledgeable and the person he can learn from. Hemingway shows that true friendship goes beyond any superficial limits such as age or social status.
Additionally, the author incorporated many objects which bear symbolic meanings, the most significant of them is the sea toward which Santiago has a special attitude. In the old man’s worldview, the sea is feminine, and this entails his intimate relationship with it. Santiago believes that it always “gave or withheld great favors” (Hemingway 15). Thus, this makes it possible to assume that the sea in the novel symbolizes the old man’s life, which is also never predictable and often depends on pure luck. Sometimes it provides him with great prizes in the form of big fish, and, on other occasions, it takes back what it gave to him, which is exactly what happened with the marlin.
Essentially, the sea is everything Santiago has, without it, nothing would be possible, he would not have an opportunity to fish, earn his living, and prove himself. Similar to fishing, the sea is a source of both joy and misfortune for the old man, and giving it up would mean losing his purpose in life for him.
There are various symbols in the book which can be interpreted differently, but two of them have rather direct meanings, specifically, these are the fishing ling and the mast. Apart from the harpoon which Santiago uses to kill the powerful marlin, he utilizes a line to control the fish and not let it go. This object represents the old man’s unyielding lust for life and strong ability to overcome challenges, which is expressed through his determination to continue the struggle.
Hemingway describes how Santiago holds the line tight in his hand, and this grip symbolizes the resilience he demonstrates during the adventure and the immense strength of his spirit (Hemingway 50). Additionally, the mast is a symbol that has a religious connotation, especially in the scene where Santiago has to bear it on his shoulders. Some researchers compared it to a crucifixion, which traditionally represents suffering and entails subsequent salvation (Bloom 150). Similarly, the mast here represents all the struggles, both mental and physical, in Santiago’s life but which he endures with great dignity. Thus, using these symbols, the author highlights the old man’s qualities and certain aspects of his character.
In The Old Man and The Sea, Hemingway depicts Santiago, an old man exemplifying human persistence, and Manolin, who is his true friend and introduces many objects with symbolic meanings. Fishing constitutes Santiago’s calling and activity through which he overcomes his weaknesses and proves to himself that he is still capable of winning in difficult situations. Through the old man’s fight with the marlin and sharks, Hemingway wanted to demonstrate to readers that they, as human beings, possess the inner potential to achieve the most unbelievable goals. The friendship of Santiago and Manolin is a rare one since there is a large age gap between them, other, as shown in different scenes.
The author also employs various symbols, and the sea plays a major role in all of them. It represents Santiago’s life, which is unpredictable and challenging and full of both joy and difficulties. The fishing line symbolizes the old man’s resilience, strength, and determination to pursue his goals, no matter what. While the mast represents Santiago’s struggles and challenges, which are common in his life but which he faces with dignity.
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold. Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Infobase Publishing, 2008.
Cain, William, E. “Death Sentences: Rereading ‘The Old Man and the Sea’.” The Sewanee Review, vol. 114, no. 1, 2007, pp. 112–125. Web.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea: The Hemingway Library Edition. Simon and Schuster, 2020.