Santiago's Pride

The Old Man and the Sea, By Earnest Hemingway enlightens the reader with the

knowledge of endurance and perseverance, as it is displayed throughout the novel. The

protagonist of the novel, Santiago perseveres and comes through with what turns out to be the

biggest catch of his life. The old man’s determination and pride are of paramount importance in

the story as it is displayed within his fishing. Santiago’s perseverance is reflected by Ernest

Hemingway’s logic, as he believes that there are only two options: either be defeated or endure

until destruction. He took the latter route in order to catch his companion, an eighteen-foot

marlin.

Santiago is a man without very much to live for. Santiago’s apprentice Manolin, stands

Santiago was able to feel the raw

power of the eighteen-foot marlin as it left permanent gashes on his hand and back. The bond

really overpowers him, and he begins to realize that he did not kill the marlin solely for food, but

out of pride and love. He then makes the assumption that “everything kills everything else in

some way”(Hemingway 106).

The honor in struggle, defeat, and death symbolizes Santiago’s character. The struggle to

have gone eighty-four days without a catch, the defeat in which he is struggling against, and the

death of his worthy opponent, the marlin. Even though the old man faults himself for having

“gone too far out” (Hemingway 110) the true prize is having the chance to battle such a worthy

opponent.

Ernest Hemingway’s Novella, “The Old Man and the Sea” shows a bond made between

man and fish. Santiago was a laughing stock amongst his village for not catching a fish for

eighty-four days. The marlin was what he thought was the only thing that could redeem himself

in the village, however predators thought other wise eating the marlin on his sail back home.

Among his return home the town surrounded the carcass of the marlin. Some mistaking it for a

Waldron