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Humility Vs Pride Essay
Character sketch of Santiago in the story Old man and the sea
Character sketch of Santiago in the story Old man and the sea
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In the novel, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, the character Santiago is able to be condemned and justified for his actions toward Manolin, however Jay Gatsby of the novel The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald is only able to be condemned for his illegal practices. In Hemingway’s acclaimed novel, the protagonist Santiago battles against a giant marlin for several days. The two are locked in a grueling rivalry that tests their physical and mental strength. Santiago eventually won the fight, but his victory was short-lived; sharks began to eat away at the marlin. But the sharks were not the true cause of the marlin’s death, but instead, it was Santiago’s pride that truly brought the fish’s life to end. He turned down the request of the boy who was willing to help him. …show more content…
Manolin, the boy, coupled with Santiago, would have brought the fish safely inside of the boat without any risk of endangering the marlin.
Manolin even offered to help in the fishing trip, “I could go with you again. We’ve made some money” (10). Santiago’s pride is his downfall since he refused Manolin’s help which resulted in the marlin’s death. Manolin regretted not coming on board, but Santiago didn’t. He believed that he was doing the right thing. This is justified when Santiago says that the reason he refuses Manolin’s assistance is so Manolin can have a promising future. Santiago said “You’re with a lucky boat. Stay with them” to Manolin (10). Santiago believes that although Manolin would help Santiago, he is better off on a different, luckier ship. Santiago is humble: by refusing the help of Manolin, he is giving Manolin a better chance at catching a fish. Santiago hasn’t caught any fish for over 80 days, whereas Manolin is making more money on the other ship. This is why Santiago can be considered prideful or humble for his refusal of
Manolin. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald features another character: Jay Gatsby, who also has many commendable things. Gatsby’s case is much more simple. He illegally made millions of dollars to impress a girl with his wealth. Although it is slowly inferred throughout the novel, on page 133 the reader is finally introduced to what Gatsby real occupation is: Gatsby and “Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter.” Gatsby justifies his actions by believing it is for love, but by distributing alcohol during prohibition, he is committing a criminal offense and he deserves to be condemned for his terrible actions. It is simple to condemn Gatsby for breaking the law, but choosing whether Santiago’s actions with Manolin should be condemned or justified is more gray.
Santiago is known for being a man to fight until the end. When he sets out to catch a fish the stakes are only greater. “He saw him first as a dark shadow that took so long to pass under the boat that he could not believe its length. “No,” he said. “He can’t be that big.” (90) When the fisherman saw the shadow of the fish he couldn’t digest the actual size until he saw it for himself. However, the old man quickly put himself back together and knew that this fish was going to be his. For Santiago catching the fish wasn’t the only motivation; he knew that he needed to clear his poor record, and gain back his pride. The self-made man also had something to prove. He needed to accomplish his goal of getting the love of his life, Daisy back. “I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before,” he said, nodding determinedly. “She’ll see.” (110) Gatsby wasn’t going to let Tom take away the woman he had thought about for five years and become rich for. Both Santiago and Gatsby wanted to win something back, and they weren’t going down without a
Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work The Great Gatsby, Nick Caraway undergoes a large transformation. His character arc demonstrates the negative effects of being part of a rich and privileged society, and that even though the 1920’s era looks beautiful and fun, a great many of its inhabitants were empty. Nick Caraway starts the novel hopeful, but as he is exposed to the amoral culture of the rich socialites and businessmen, he becomes cynical, bitter, and he abandons his habits of honesty, and reserving judgment.
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.
Santiago and Gatsby seem polar opposite on the surface but under the surface these two are extremely alike. In Old Man at the Sea, Santiago goes 84 days without catching fish, while trying to break the curse Santiago sets his hook upon this huge
This may be true in all cases, but it is clearly predominant in Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. It is evident that Hemingway modeled the main character, Santiago after his own person, and that the desires, the mentality, and the lifestyle of the old man are identical to Hemingway's.
The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of Santiago, a very old fisherman, and his quest to catch a fish after eighty four days of failing to catch any fish at all. When his young apprentice, Manolin, is forced to abandon him by his parents, Santiago sets out farther than he has ever traveled at sea in hopes that larger fish will be available for catching. Not only does he spend several days fighting with a great marlin that he manages to hook before finally killing him, he also battles with hungry sharks, as well as his own body, which, at times, seems to be failing him.
In regards to Nick’s reliability and effectiveness in his role as the narrator, I believe that he is entirely qualified and that it was the most effective way to narrate the novel. First of all, he lives right next door to Gatsby which allows him to assist Gatsby due to his close proximity. In addition, Nick is Daisy’s second cousin once removed so he can closely observe the relationship between her and Gatsby. Since he is a secondary character and not Gatsby himself, his emotions are not as affected by Daisy’s or Tom’s actions. His nonpartisan perspective and understanding personality is stated in the beginning of the book. “…I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me…” (1) However, he is close to these characters so he can also give insight to the audience and has many intrusions throughout the story. Even though Nick is supposed to simply be a character in the book, it hints that he is also the author of the book and has an omniscient point of view. He also makes the audience feel as if he is speaking directly to them and simply retelling a story from the summer he spent with Gatsby.
In these two chapters we learn some new information about Gatsby’s background. Do you believe he is telling the truth this time or lying?
To begin with, the old man is determined just as the fish is. When Santiago first hooks the fish, he states, “‘Fish,’ he said softly, aloud, ‘I’ll stay with you until I am dead’” (Hemingway 52). This shows how he will risk his life to prove that he can catch this marlin. Santiago was fixed on catching this fish and ending his bad luck streak. And, as the marlin doesn’t have much of a choice, he will fight until he dies as well. They are both very
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...
Santiago does not treat Manolin as a young boy, but rather as an equal. Age is not a factor in their relationship. Manolin does not even act as a young boy; he is mature and sensitive to Santiago’s feelings. He even offers to go against his parent’s wishes and accompany Santiago on his fishing trips. Santiago is viewed as an outcast in his village because he has not caught any fish for more than eighty-four days and is therefore “unlucky”.
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...
In the opening of the novel, the entire town has turned against Santiago, because he is ”salao,” truly unlucky, Manolin still cares and believes in Santiago. Since he is the on;y boy who refers to the old man by name. This suggests that the by knows him in a way that few do. Manolin is an apprentice fisherman in a fishing
The relationship between animal and human in this text shows as a relationship of appreciation and respect. Santiago loves everything about being a fisherman. He is lonely at sea and his sea friends are his companions. He has great respect for the sea as well as the inhabitants that swim and live in it. He does not love all creatures of the deep, blue sea, however, does show respect for each one. Santiago has a particular relationship with the marlin. He comments that the marlin is “wonderful”, “strange”, “strong”, “wise”, and “that is fight has no panic to it” (Hemingway 48 -49). Based on his description of the marlin, Santiago loves and respects him as a worthy opponent and brother, “Now we are joined together and have been since noon” (Hemingway 50). Santiago is not only literally linked to the marlin, but also figuratively because the outcome of this battle will determine both their fates. The old man says, “The fish is my friend too,” he said aloud. “I have never seen or heard of such a fish. But I must kill him I am glad we do not have to try to kill the stars” (Hemingway 75). He starts to imagine impossible feats like killing the moon or the sun and feels lucky that his task, in relative terms, is much simpler. Although he is sad to kill the fis...
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.