The incorporation of religion into literature is a common technique that adds significance to the overall meaning of any type of work. Ernest Hemingway, a passionate fisherman, successfully utilizes this technique in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novella, The Old Man and the Sea (Kinzer n. pag.). Considered one of his most famous and meaningful works, Hemingway’s novella details the journey of a poor but noble fisherman, Santiago, as he faces one of the greatest and most difficult struggles of his life. Throughout his telling of Santiago’s journey, Hemingway integrates a large amount of Christ symbolism that effectively portrays Santiago as Christ. Before his journey, Santiago’s master-disciple relationship with Manolin, his prior apprentice who has a strong faith in Santiago and his moral, and his past fishing experiences are introduced. During his voyage, Santiago spends three grueling days fighting to outsmart, dominate, and catch a giant marlin that he hooks. While on the sea and far away from home, Santiago’s physical and mental endurance are tested against the incredible strength of the marlin, but his determination ultimately helps him to catch the marlin and achieve a miraculous victory. Although several sharks ultimately eat the marlin, Santiago returns home a hero, and Manolin and his friend Pedrico vow to preach of Santiago’s values and his moral, mental, and physical greatness. Based on these events, Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is an allegorical novel that depicts Santiago as a Christ figure before, during, and after his pursuit of the great marlin.
From the very beginning of the novella, Santiago is likened to Christ through his characteristics, experiences, and even his name, which is Spanish for ...
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The author shows the reader the sea just as the sailor does as death, but more than death
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Santiago can be compared to a Christ figure on the basis of his relationships with other characters in the novel. People look up to Santiago, as would a follower to Christ, hereby setting up a comparison between the two. (transition) Since the age of five, Manolin has aided the old man by working alongside him as an apprentice. Manolin is loyal to Santiago and looks up to him as if Santiago was his real father. According to Delbert Wylder, "Santiago has, in a sense been the boy’s spiritual father" ( 219). Manolin is in awe of the old man, who the town recognizes as an honorable fisherman. The boy states, "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you." Like Santiago, Christ was also a spiritual father to his town; the town of Bethlehem. He performed miracles to heal the sick, and fed thousands of starving people. As Jim Auer says, "This demonstrates Santiago’s relation to Christ. They are both extremely unique, and were father figures in their communities" (15). ?The people of Bethlehem looked up to Christ as a father figure, and they had love and admiration towards him.? Likewise, "The love of Manolin for Santiago is that of a discipline for a master in the arts of fishing, it is also the love of a son for an adopted father" (Wagner-Martin 307). Through Manolin’s caring of the old man, he shows his love for Santiago. Even though Santiago is not Manolin’s biological father, he cares for him as though he was. "The old man was asleep in the chair and the sun was down. The boy took the old army blanket off the bed and spread it over the back of the chair and over the old man’s shoulders… and when he woke up he fed him supper" (...
In the novel The Old Man And The Sea, Ernest Hemingway develops the concept of
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Many times, stories by Ernest Hemingway have much religious influence and symbolism. In The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, numerous occurrences in the life of Santiago the fisherman are similar to the incidents recorded in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The names of the characters translated from Spanish to English are just one of those many similarities.
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