Santiago In Ernest Hemingway's Tragic Hero

Although Santiago was destroyed and had almost everything good in his life taken away, but he was not defeated. Through every struggle, Santiago did not give up, even when it appeared he could never win. Transforming his battles into opportunities to learn as well grow in endurance, Santiago overcame destruction. To be destroyed means to be reduced to nothing and to lose everything. When someone is destroyed, he or she is ruined and not who they once were. Sometimes when someone is destroyed, they have no chance becoming whole or rising up again. Someone is then defeated if they are broken to the point where they cannot be saved. To be defeated means to be overthrown or conquered. When someone is defeated they are left with nothing and have

Fighting for his power and for a better future, Santiago held strong using what he had to win his battles. “I wish I had a stone for the knife,” the old man said after he had checked the lashing on the oar butt. “I should have brought a stone.” You should have brought many things, he thought. But you did not bring them, old man. Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” (Hemingway 31) If Santiago had given up, letting the fish and everything else, which fought against him, win, he would have been defeated. However, he did not return defeated, despite what he had gone through, Santiago used what he had endured to make him stronger. Learning a valuable lesson, through his time alone out in the boat, Santiago went back to his home knowing just how much he needed Manolin. Santiago proved his strength while opening up his eyes to his own weaknesses. Coming back after the fight of his life, with his fish eaten away by sharks, and all his strength gone, Santiago was clearly destroyed, yet he had gained more than he could have ever imagined. “They beat me, Manolin,” he said. “They truly beat me.” “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish.”… “Now we fish together again.”… “I’ll bring the food and the papers,” the boy said. “Rest well, old man. I will bring stuff from the drugstore for your hands.” (Hemingway 35) Instead of becoming defeated, Santiago demonstrated his resilient character and gained a hope for his future with Manolin by his side.

While lost at sea, Santiago fought for courage in order to not be defeated by the powerful fish, pushing Santiago to his breaking point. “Maybe he suddenly felt fear. But he was such a calm, strong fish and he seemed so fearless and so confident. It is strange. “You better be fearless and confident yourself, old man,” he said. “You’re holding him again but you cannot get line. But soon