Major Themes In Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea

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In this world, there is quote after quote after quote on people’s stances on life. Readers are exposed to those millions of opinions with every story they pick up. Ernest Hemingway shared his judgments on life through a classic novel that seems to connect to many of those readers. What seems to be his belief on life was that though this world may seem to be destined for defeat, it’s imperative in life to attain triumph, bravery, respect, and love in the end. That message in The Old Man and the Sea is exposed through the minor themes, the major, overall theme, and the symbolism in the novel that contributes to the the major theme. To begin with, there are several smaller themes that fit into the story, such as manhood, the complete circle of life, and man’s relationship with nature. Santiago, the main character, mentions often what being a man is. He states, “But I will show him what a man can do and what a man endures. ‘I told the boy I was a strange old man,’ he said, ‘Now is when I must prove …show more content…

The dream of lions, the creatures of the sea, and DiMaggio are fluent symbols throughout the story. The major theme, having pride even if there is no success, corresponds heavily with the message of life. Minor themes, like man and nature’s relationship, the circle of nature, and what being a man fully means, supplies support for that too. These words that flowed from the mind of Ernest Hemingway onto these pages and formed this story has been read by thousands. Every one of those thousands of readers have most likely been exposed to the millions of perspectives on life. This very classic of a novel is one of those millions and has been able to endure the test of time by connecting with it’s readers on a basic and deep level of the significance of

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