The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

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Recommended: The sea as a controlling factor in the old man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea was written by Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cuba, and published in 1952. It is a novel which talks about an old man named Santiago who has gone for eighty-four days without catching a fish. He sets out to the sea to try his luck, although he manages to catch a very big fish, he returns empty handed. The story mainly focuses on the challenges he faces on the sea to catch a very big fish. More than just setting, the sea plays an important role in the novella, assuming a character of its own. This essay will discuss the role of the sea in the old man and sea. Firstly, a major part of the story is set on the sea. The sea acts as a backdrop against which the reader views Santiago’s character. Santiago’s character is clearly seen through his interaction with the sea. We see Santiago’s’ strength while he strives to catch the fish. The community where he lives used to think that he has bad luck and that his best days were over, however, Santiago is able to prove everyone wrong thanks to the sea. The sea serves as an ideal location because it is turbulent and can be difficult to navigate. “Man can be destroyed but not defeated” This shows Santiago’s strong determination and strength to kill the fish he admires the most. Even though he loves the fish he is determined to kill this fish to show his strength using elements of the sea. Furthermore, in the turbulence of his life, the sea gives Santiago hope. The sea seems to welcome him, providing him company and food for his trip. There was no resistance from nature to his activities, except perhaps the sharks, but these are known predators to nature itself. This is seen when a butler (bird) lands on his boat and provides him company showing how nature is for him and not against him, as so many might argue. Moreover, Santiago’s love for nature is seen through the sea. In the story, Santiago is able to see the fish and other animals which he always dreams about through the sea. “He always thought of the sea as 'la mar' which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. “Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman.

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