Comparing the Film and the Novel of Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea

Comparing the Film and the Novel of Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea After having read the Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" as a book in

class, we also watched the film which was made afterwards because of

the story's enormous popularity. As always, there are some ways in

which the book differs from the film as well as the fact that they

have several things in common.

Taking into consideration that this novel was Hemingway's last

desperate attempt at breaking through after all his previous

narratives flopped I thought that the film might be different from the

movie indeed because he might've wanted to bring the story into

perfection in this way. Also I assumed it to be very boring to spend a

whole film showing how one single man overcomes his mental and

physical problems and eventually manages to catch a huge marlin and

take it home; thus that there were other, new events involved for more

variety and that things which were pushed into the background in the

book now were more striking fore extra depth. For example, a new role,

flashbacks and different storylines would make the film more

interesting.

From these suggested improvements you can conclude that I consider the

book to be a bit longwinded because there are actually very few events

taking place: the long fight against the marlin before it dies and

then the numerous shark attacks to the fish which the old man can't

avert. Anyhow, at mental point there's a lot to enjoy: every time when

Santiago ...

... middle of paper ...

...ore unrealistic: no computer techniques (unrealistic)

The people, besides the old man, say: man may be destroyed but not

defeated to emphasise the message. In the book only the old man says

it.

Problems:

bad luck (no fish)

lonelyness

age

no food, little sleep (only raw fish)

physical problems (cramp in hand + back)

He overcomes them by:

hope

determination

skill

talking to himself, praying to God for help (superstition + religion)

This was the author's story; he was trying once more for a successful

book, at which he succeeded. The old man's message is also for the

reader.

Assignment:

What are the differences + similarities between the book and the film?

Which is more successful, in your opinion? Also in conveying the

simple message "man can be destroyed but not defeated".