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Use of symbolism in the old man and the sea
Significance of symbolism in Hemingway, the old man and the sea
Symbolism in old man and the sea
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The Old Man and the Sea is a classic novel detailing the life of a Cuban fisherman and his struggle with a massive marlin. All throughout, symbolism serves a key role in shifting the focus from a dry novel to a deep tale with a lasting impression. Religious references are also a significant component, adding a unique point of view readers rarely experience in an ordinary novel. Hemmingway knew, uniting the two would prove the perfect combination. An in depth read will reveal numerous key elements, magnifying The Old Man and the Sea into a classic sustaining tale. Among all the literary elements used in works of literature, symbolism is one of the most important. Attentive readers will find themselves baffled if they miss the symbolism and its vital significance throughout The Old Man and the Sea. “In Ernest Hemingway’s masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea, he uses much symbolism to assist the readers understanding of the message he is trying to portray” (Symbolism). Those who have read Hemingway’s novel will notice the symbolism revealed all throughout and its key message, beginning with simple ordinary symbolism and expanding to vast examples of symbolic details. Hemingway captivated his readers using simple symbolism like the sharks to complex ideas like the sea representing God, both methods easily proving to be a key element, making the novel an instant success. The symbolism implemented by Hemingway, regardless of how minute does well to serve its purpose; adding an important lieracy device. The first time symbolism occurs in the Old man and the Sea emerges at the beginning of the novel between Santiago and Manolin. The relationship between the main character Santiago and his protégée Manolin, parallel to that of a... ... middle of paper ... ...Man and the Sea: Hemingway's Dialectic of Imagery." elcamino. 2002. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. . Hemingway, Ernest . The Old Man and the Sea. New York, NY: SCRIBNER, 2003. Print. Lorcher, Trent. "Symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea." Bright Hub. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. . "The Old Man and the Sea: Symbols." LITCHARTS. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. . "The Symbolism of The Old Man and the Sea." 123helpme!. 2000-2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. . "The Old Man and the Sea." SparkNotes. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. . teen study BIBLE. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Grand Rapids, MI: ZONDERVAn, 1998. Print.
The literary device of symbolism appears in a vast amount of stories and novels. When everyday words actually mean something completely different, it exemplifies the meaning of the word symbolism. Symbolism usually takes a keen understanding of the work and how the author views the particular work. Symbolism presents itself in the novel Life of Pi: A Novel in copious amounts. Yann Martel placed many words with different meanings well and throughout Life of Pi: A Novel. The short story “Beach Glass”, by Amy Clampitt also obtains a lot of symbolism and these symbols compare akin and contrary to the representations found within the story Life of Pi: A Novel. Pollution, dwellings, and the ocean all appear as different symbols in both works of literature.
‘The Sea’ followed a different people and it also gave the reader some back story on things and people that were brought up through the book.
In The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume II. Edited by Paul Lauter et al. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath and Company, 1991: 1208-1209. Hemingway, Ernest. A.
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.
Waldhorn, Arthur. Ernest Hemingway: A Collection of Criticism (Contemporary Studies in Literature). Chicago: Syracuse University Press, 1978.
Ernest Hemingway is a world renown author who has won many prestigious awards for his simple, yet complex writing style. One of his various novels is The Old Man and The Sea, an age old classic that captures the audience’s attention with its thought provoking imagery and bold themes. This novella is about an elderly fisherman, Santiago, and his excruciating three-day battle with an enormous marlin. In many literary circles, there is a frequent debate on if Santiago is portrayed to be a static or dynamic character. Hemingway writes Santiago as a static character because he has not changed during his various hardships.
The Cambridge Companion to Ernest Hemingway; edited by Scott Donaldson; Cambridge U. P.; New York, NY; 1996
Relationship, External nature and Dignity are the major themes in The Old Man and the SeaA very important relationship in the novella The Old Man and the Sea is that between Manolin and Santiago. Manolin supports Santiago and helps him confront his greatest challenge. Manolin proves this when he says, "I would like to go fishing with you. I would like to serve you in some way" (p. 15). Manolin is the first person who appreciates Santiago's experience and skills.
In The Old Man and the Sea the boy is brought to attention by the old man more than anything else in the story is. The old man, Santiago, thinks of the boy as the little boy that he used to take fishing and carefully watch over. Now that the boy, Manolin, has grown up, the old man still refuses to acknowledge his maturity. While the old man is on his lengthy fishing trip, looking for the greatest catch of all times, he finds himself delirious at times, wanting for the boy. On page 51, Aloud he said, “I wish I had the boy.” But you haven’t got the boy, he thought. You have only yourself and you had better work back to the last line now, in the dark or not in the dark, and cut it away and hook up the two reserve coils. That is one example of the symbol of the boy in this book. The boy is a symbol of youth, potency and hope to the old man in trial times. Santiago began to talk to the boy aloud at one point and he also wished several times that the boy could have been with him on his length search of the greatest catch of all.
Ernest Hemingway in His Time. July, 1999. Universtiy of Delaware Library, Special Collections Department. 29 Dec. 2000
The characters in The Old Man and the Sea are in actuality, major figures in the New Testament. Santiago is an old man, yet he had young eyes. No matter how defeated he was, he would never show it and he would look on the brighter side of things. In my mind, these traits make Santiago a god-like figure. Manolin, which translates into Messiah, is Jesus (Stoltzfus qtd in CLC 13:280). Santiago is the "father" who teaches his symbolic son and disciple, Manolin. After catching the largest marlin, Manolin will leave his parents in order to follow the teachings of Santiago, his master, just as Jesus did (Stoltzfus qtd in CLC 13:280). Pedrico is actually Saint Peter, Jesus' closest apostle and a great fisherman (Wilson 50). Peter helped Jesus fish for souls as Pedrico helped Manolin fish for food. Santiago gives Pedrico the head of the mutilated marlin which symbolizes Saint Peter as head of the Christian church and the first Pope (Stoltzfus CLC 280).
Manzanares, March 21th of 1999. The Old Man And The Sea What is the title of the story? A= The Old Man and the Sea. Who is the main character? A= . Santiago (The Old Man) is the main character of The Old Man and the Sea. His occupation is a fisherman. Unlike the rest of the fishing community, Santiago continues to fish using traditional methods. These methods, however, do not allow Santiago to catch many fish. Thus, he is forced to live a semi-impoverished life Who is the secondary character? A= Manolin (the young boy) is a young man and good friend of Santiago. Santiago has spent several years teaching and instructing Manolin in the traditional methods of fishing. Where and when the story takes place? A= In Cuba and out in the Gulf Stream, in the 50’. What is the climax of the story? A= During the last few moments of the Marlin's life. Santiago battles furiously with the huge fish as it thrashes about in the water. The danger to Santiago is immense because the size of the marlin is much greater than the Santiago's boat.
... foreign and mysterious. The people of that time period didn’t really know what to expect. They sought the sea as a counter-purposive nature - a wild, sublime nature which its audience could imagine as being so very unlike the familiar and domesticated nature of pastoral England. They simply didn’t know enough about it and had the worst fears about it. Their fears proved somehow true and real in the incident shown in the painting. The view we should follow in the 21st century is that of the depiction in the Old Man and the Sea. We need to learn how to deal with the sea; how to live with it, cherish it and protect it because the sea is a gift, a gift of wonder. We can’t do without it. We need it. We need to learn how to protect it and leave the humans’ selfish ways out of it. The old man fished and left behind some for the future; we need to do the same.
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.
New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Print. The. Hemingway, Ernest. A.