Hemingway Biblical Allusions

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Recommended: Biblical influence on symbolism in the old man and the sea

The story of creation, the Garden of Eden, or the Holy Grail. These are just a few of the most remarkable biblical allusions commonly made in literature. While such widely recognized symbolism is a major component of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea, there is a more fundamental parallel of biblical reference which Hemingway establishes. In his critical essay “Incarnation and Redemption in The Old Man and The Sea” G.R Wilson, Jr. analyzes two time spans of the novella in parallel with two important time spans of the bible. Through his thorough analysis, Wilson characterizes the circumstances, experiences, and emotions entailed in these time spans as symbolisms of the biblical Incarnation and Redemption and in relation to human achievement. …show more content…

As we learn about Santiago’s previous misfortunes, Wilson unveils a parallel to the entire Christmas Cycle of the liturgical calendar. This biblical time span lasts from the first of Advent until Septuagesima Sunday, which marks the first warning of the approach of Lent (369). According to Christian myth, this time celebrates Christ’s earthly life and the establishment of his name as Son of God. After overcoming the many hardships he faced in the rigid society of his day when Christ established himself in the midst of the people three years of public ministry followed. The coming of Christ is symbolic of the establishment of Santiago as a heroic stature in the eyes of Manolin. The relationship between the young boy and Santiago continuously model a master-disciple relationship, founded in Manolin’s faith and admiration of the old man. This connection is founded in the great record of three weeks of successful fishing, symbolic of the three years of Jesus’ successful and admired ministry (Wilson

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