The Sea Battle Of Life

1022 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A sea journey essay

Marlins and the sea are usually never associated with lions. They are, however, in The Old Man and the Sea written by Ernest Hemingway. Together they are extremely symbolic in the novella. Lions are often the subject of Santiago’s dreams and they represent youth and nature. The old man hooks a marlin and fights the fish which represents a beautiful challenge. Santiago’s universe is the sea and it stands for a way of life. Manhood has also been a connector for the three aspects and is intertwined with them all. The sea, marlin and the lions all symbolic attributes of youth, challenges, life and are all attached to an idea of manhood. Manolin is one of the main characters in the novella and he represents faith, love and loyalty. The old man is in constant need of help and Manolin is always there for him no matter what the circumstance. The narrator explains, “the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky” (Hemingway 9). The passage implies that Manolin’s parents did not want him to be hanging around the old man but despite their wishes he helps the old man from day to day. He shows great loyalty to the old man and does not care what the other people think of him because he knows he is helping a friend in need. Manolin is one of the only reasons the old man stays alive because he gives much needed moral support and buys Santiago essential living items. Everything that he does to care for the old man is thoughtful and Manolin does it carefully and lovingly. He is an incredible, mature boy to do all his work at such a young age and he has experienced things that normal boys would not have at that age. The old man retells the story to Manolin, ... ... middle of paper ... ...ail. In both the sea and in life, there are a number of possibilities that lie hidden from the common eye; some are gifts to be treasured and some are problems to be defeated. Neither will be found unless man embarks upon the journey. If man is lucky enough to discover a treasure, he must fight until death to retain it; if man is unlucky enough to discover an evil lurking underneath the surface of the sea, he must fight it bravely and nobly until the end. In either case, it is the struggle that is all- important, and a man obtains the status of hero if he battles the sea with grace under pressure. In the novel, Santiago embarks on a sea journey and encounters a giant marlin. He battles nobly to earn the treasure and then fights the sharks to save it. The struggle defines him as a hero. Even though he loses the marlin to the sharks, he has won the sea battle of life.

Show More
Related

  • Marlin off the Morrow: A Cuban Letter Written by Ernest Hemingway

    1113 Words  | 3 Pages

    magazine in 1933, and written by Ernest Hemingway. The essay details the escapades of a Cuban fisherman dragged out to sea by marlin. By the time he was found, sharks had destroyed the man’s great catch.1 This essay is the basis for the story of the main character, Santiago, in Hemingway’s novella, The Old Man and the Sea.1 Published almost twenty years later, in 1952, The Old Man and the Sea is considered a classic American novel. The story is deceivingly simple, involving an unlucky elderly fisherman, Santiago, who hasn't caught a fish in months. However, many aspects of the story tell of a much deeper message which transcends the years. Santiago embodies universal truths about the character traits of men, including perseverance and commitment, faith and humility developed through adversity.

    Read More

  • Killing Me Fish Quotes

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    So, Santiago went out into the sea with some fishing supplies such as a harpoon, knife, and a rope. That day, he caught a fish or two that he used as bait. That same day, something hooked on his line that he never saw before. It was enormous in size! It was not a shark nor whale, and it jumped out of the water really quickly. What was it? It was the great marlin! Santiago stated, "I will lash the two oars together across the stern and that will slow him in the night, he said, he's good for the night and so am I"( Hemingway 73). Santiago strained to keep this massive marlin, but tried his best to fight and keep the beast on his line. Santiago wanted to keep this marlin alive, yet he knew what he was up against. After the long and painful days of trying to keep the marlin alive, Santiago said, "I killed him in self defense, the old man aloud and I killed him well"(Hemingway 106). Santiago did not truly want to kill the marlin, he wanted to bring him back to his village. Unfortunately, the sea and sharks got the best of the marlin and ate it. Santiago had to fight the sharks off, so he had something left of the marlin to show the people. These actions taken by Santiago was a true struggle between himself and

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Santiago And The Marlin

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the literary fiction book The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago is very alike to the marlin. They are both strong, determined, and great fighters. Even though they share these similarities, they are different, as they have different motivations to win the battle they are fighting.

    Read More

  • Santiago Marlin Quotes

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the novel, Santiago’s sentiments toward the marlin go through several considerable changes. At first, the marlin is the catch Santiago has been waiting for. However, as the story progresses Santiago appears to become endeared toward the fish, even going as far as calling him his “brother” (Hemingway 59). Later, once Santiago has killed the great marlin, he even seems remorseful.

    Read More

  • Themes in The Old Man and the Sea

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Old Man and the Sea is a heroic tale of man’s strength pitted against forces he cannot control. It is a tale about an old Cuban fisherman and his three-day battle with a giant Marlin. Through the use of three prominent themes; friendship, bravery, and Christianity; the “Old Man and the Sea” strives to teach important life lessons to the reader.

    Read More

  • Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea

    1384 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Old Man and the Sea takes in place in Havana, Cuba and the fishing waters off the coast of Havana. The Spanish names, Santiago and Manolin, are typical in Cuba. Cuba is mostly Catholic so this accounted for Santiago's devotion to Jesus Christ. The year seems to be around the 1930's and 1940's because Santiago is a big fan of Joe DiMaggio who played during these years. In the 1930's and '40's, the city of Havana was booming with population and business. Seafood is one of the most popular foods in Havana so to meet the rising demand of fish, many young boys learned how to be fishermen as Manolin did.

    Read More

  • Old Man And The Sea - One Finds In Life Exactly What One Contributes

    489 Words  | 1 Pages

    Furthermore, Santiago often talked about his hero. It was Joe DiMaggio, a famous and eminent baseball player. Joe DiMaggio directly and indirectly affected the old man. His actions and his attitudes contributed to the old man’s life. “But I must have the confidence and I must be worthy of the great DiMaggio.” (Pg. 68). Thinking about DiMaggio showed the old man the way to victory. His worship of DiMaggio woke the courage that was within the old man’s heart.

    Read More

  • The Old Man And The Sea: Man Defeated

    2041 Words  | 5 Pages

    Reading through the novel The Old Man and the Sea one, as a reader, can perceive several themes in the book. Hemingway suggests certain subjects for discussion which built up the whole plot, therefore giving us options to choose the one we believe is the main one. In the past weeks we have been discussing, in a debate, which is that main theme. My group’s theme was “Man Defeated” and although it is hard to affirm that this theme was the prevailing one of the book, we firmly defend it. Various arguments were established. Some argued that the novel’s theme was Santiago’s struggle, the friendship with the fish and other characters; Santiago’s perseverance and that he really ended up as a triumphant man. But to argue that those were also the main themes of the book is also a difficult thing to do. Even though Santiago fought and kept on with his struggle to catch the fish, he was defeated because he lost it at the end.

    Read More

  • The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

    1637 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the novel The Old Man And The Sea, Ernest Hemingway develops the concept of

    Read More

  • The Old Man And The Sea and Moby Dick

    1367 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, pits his strength against forces he cannot control.  We learn from Santiago's struggles how to face insurmountable odds with bravery and courage.  Though we find an indifferent and hostile universe as Santiago's stage, his unwillingness to give in to these forces demonstrate a reverence for life's struggles.  Santiago's struggle is for dignity and meaning in the face of insurmountable odds.  His warrior-like spirit fights off the sharks full-well knowing the fate of his marlin.  Santiago loses his marlin in the end, but his struggle to keep it represent a victory because of the dignity and heroism with which he carries out his mission.  However, as Santiago acknowledges, he is almost sorry he caught the marlin because he knows the animal and he have a great deal in common as fellow beings in nature.  However, he only caught the marlin "through trickery" (Hemingway  99).  Santi...

    Read More

  • Santiago in "The Old Man and the Sea"

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    The old man and the sea is a novella about an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, and his three-day battle with a giant Marlin fish. Throughout the novella, Santiago is portrayed in different perspectives. He is tough and refuses to give up at any time. He withholds the will to continue and the courage to overcome what is believed to be the impossible. His persistence and confidence, his absolute determination and his unique way of accepting the reality makes him a noble hero.

    Read More

  • The Character Santiago in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea

    1899 Words  | 4 Pages

    The great stories behind The Old Man and the Sea are what make it so wonderful. Because of this novels success released in 1952, it helped Hemingway ring in the Nobel Prize for 1954 for Hemingway (Hurse). He had a way of writing a good hearted, high spirited hero, who seemed in many ways to be at one with nature and himself. It is believed that Hemingway conjured up the character Santiago from a 92 year old man who crossed to Florida with other Cuban refugees (Baker 910). This makes sense considering Santiago is the main character, who is of old age. His characters although having many great qualities, still had struggles. Santiago is the man of hour, when speaking of The Old Man and the Sea. H...

    Read More

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

    1306 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Father Son Relationship In The Old Man And The Sea

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Old Man and the Sea, was written by Ernest Hemingway. In the novella, the old man, Santigo and the young boy Manolin has a relationship that goes dar beyond friendship. They have a soul bonding relationship. The boy needs the old man as a teacher and the old man needs the boy was family. Hemingway creates a very powerful, poignant relationship between the old man and the young boy throughout his novella using dialogues.

    Read More

  • The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway

    795 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Old Man and the Sea focuses its plot mainly on Santiago’s struggle against the marlin. Existentialism makes its appearance when Santiago chooses to pursue the marlin, stay with it the entire way, and fight tooth and nail at the end. “My choice was to go there to find him beyond all people,” is how Santiago explains his actions to challenge the fish (Hemingway 50). He mentions how he was born to be a fisherman, and by chasing the marlin, he will give his life the meaning for existence. Santiago also insists on staying with the fish until one of them is dead, which exemplifies his will to fulfill his goals in life. He endures obstacles such as nausea, cramps, and sleep deprivation because he does not want to give up and surrender his fate. When it comes down to the final struggle, Santiago pits all of the pain, strength, and pride he has left against the fish in order to bring it down. Despair begins to creep in when Santiago finds it hard to pull in the marlin, but he overcomes it with every ounce of will he has. He knows that it is up to him to create this important moment in his li...

    Read More

More about The Sea Battle Of Life

Open Document