NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Ernest Hemingway's' colorful life as a big game hunter, fisherman, and Nobel Prize winner began in quiet Oak Park, Illinois, July 21, 1899. In high school Hemingway played football and also boxed and it was the latter which was responsible for a permanent eye injury that caused the army to reject his efforts to enlist in World War I. Boxing, however, finally proved to be an asset to Hemingway, for it gave him a lasting enthusiasm for prizefighting, material for stories, and a tendency to talk of his literary accomplishments in boxing terms. Santiago: A Perfect Role Model for Manolin In the novel, "The Old Man and the Sea", Hemingway builds a character that is easily comparative to any great hero or idol in history. This character, named "Santiago" displays the characteristics needed to conquer his battles or at least do all he can to achieve his goals. This is especially important considering the fact that he is looked at as a mentor of sorts by another character, the young boy named "Manolin. " Manolin has known the old man since the age of five.
As a protg to Santiago, Manolin has grown to have a great deal of respect for the old man. This is represented by the boy's eagerness to stand by the old man's side no matter what the situation is. Santiago is the epitome of the human will, and a display for how courage and perseverance are able to win over difficulties that seem nearly impossible to overcome. Early in the novel, one can see that the old man has fallen onto hard times in his fishing profession. This is not the first time this has happened though. It has been many days since his last catch and the situation looks very bleak to those who do not know the old man's desire and courage.
They see the "wrinkles", and "cancer blotches" of an old man, but not the eyes, which "have remained unchanged. " Most of the townspeople know of Santiago's seeming dismay, and their reactions to this are somewhat split. A good portion of the townspeople and fellow fishermen sympathize for Santiago and maintain a great deal of respect for this fallen hero. But the others shun him and his cursed fishing luck. They are superstitious and feel that he brings a dark cloud to loom over the village that will curse all of them with his exact bad luck. However, it is clear that it is what Santiago possesses, which the pessimistic fishermen do not, that gives the old man an overall advantage. This prized possession is identified as a strong will.
It appears that Santiago has always coveted the strong will. Once known as "El Champion", because of his remarkable arm-wrestling and fishing abilities, it appears that he still obtains this strong will inside him. As a humanitarian in the truest sense, he was more than willing to teach the young Manolin everything he knew of fishing while Manolin was just a very young child. In return, a great deal of admiration was formed by Manolin in recognition for the befriending by Santiago.
Presently, however, Manolin, like many of the other fishermen isn't perfectly clear on how to react to the old man's predicament. He realizes that the old man is in an incredibly awful fishing drought, but he also remembers their perseverance in the past and the rewards they reaped for it. He decides that he will choose not to listen to others such as his father and what they have to say, and continue in support of his friend. As a sign of his loyalty, Manolin first asks the old man if he may accompany him on his next day's trip to sea. At first this plea is turned down by the old man. But after further bargaining and a bit of reminiscing of better times, the old man agrees to some help from the boy.
The reluctance by Santiago shows his care for the boy's well-being. It is only the man's confidence in his redemption that allowed him to finally accept the boy's offer of help. Santiago's certainty in this "redemption" is bewildering to some, while Manolin has no trouble grasping the idea. This is because the qualities that have been instilled into the boy are the same as the old man's. They are truly thinking on the same wavelength.
This separates, or isolates them from the rest of the village; but neither the boy nor the man really cares. Later in the book comes the hardest test of Santiago's mental and physical strengths. Finally, his chance for redemption, comes in the form of a very large fish. In fact, it is the largest fish the old man has ever attempted to catch. A great battle between the old man and the fish begins.
This battle, however, is not one fueled by rage and frustration, but rather by courage and wills. The old man and the fish are similar in certain aspects. These aspects are recognized by the old man, and this is why the battle is such an honorable one seemingly on both ends of the rope. "There is a difference between 'killing' and the ceasing of letting an animal die. " Santiago knows this, and he is well determined to bring in the mighty fish, and understandably so. "When an individual sees that all finite centers and loyalties are fleeting and incapable of being lasting objects of faith, then he will renounce all previous efforts in despair, repent in humility, and gratefully make the movement of faith by which alone his life can become meaningful and worthwhile. " Yet at the same time his respect for the fish and honor of his own character smothers any chances of pure gratification for the redemption that would be the killing of the fish. Santiago found honor in everything he did. He was not a beggar; though he had much to beg for.
He was not a quitter; though failure long stared him in the eyes. Most importantly, he was a caring man. He cared for himself and others equally. It was easy to see that these traits had indeed been passed down to Manolin. Just as the old man found no "loss of true pride" in his failures, the boy found likewise in his friendship with the old man.
After all, in Hemingway's "search for wider social meaning", The Old Man and the Sea showed it is not success that determines one's worth. It is, as the boy and the man both knew, character that is the true determiner. In the novel The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway uses the literary device of metaphors. Hemingway uses the metaphor of the ocean to symbolize life and to depict the role that individuals play in life.
Hemingway uses the metaphor of the lions to signify people who live their lives as active participants. The tourists in the novel represent the individuals, who in observe their lives and are not active participants. The way Hemingway wrote this book, he describes everything as he sees in his own personal view of life. The ocean in The Old Man and the Sea is a metaphor, which represents Hemingway's personal view of life.
Hemingway believes that in life everyone must find their own niche and uses the metaphor of the ocean and the boats on it to demonstrate this. Most of the boats were silent except for the dip of the oars. "They spread apart after they were out of the mouth of the harbor and each one headed for the part of the ocean where he hoped to find fish. The old man knew he was going far out... " 1 (page 22) Hemingway feels that in life there are people who participate in life and people who observe life as it passes just like on the ocean where there are boats that do not test their boundaries. The boats are the people in life, and most of the boats are silent. They paddle within the areas they know to be safe and always are cautious not to upset the life that they have established for themselves. Hemingway is explaining that most people don't raise a commotion, they just allow life to happen to them.
The old man is testing his limits, he is challenging the ocean, and rowing where he wants to go, not where the ocean wants to take him. Hemingway believes that in life, the farther a person stays from the observers, the more free and exhilarated they will be. "If there is a hurricane, you always see the signs of it in the sky for days ahead, if you are at sea. They do not see it ashore because they do not know what to look for, he thought. The land must make a difference too, in the shape of the clouds. But we have no hurricane coming now. " 2 (page 51) Hemingway theorizes that in life there are going to be unexpected collisions. Just as the sea creates storms life creates storms.
Those who live life to the fullest will be the least affected by these storms because they have the strength and the knowledge to handle them, but the observers or those on land will be destroyed because they do not have the power to handle the destruction that the storms will cause. The individuals who are far out to sea have the knowledge that the ocean will test them with momentous storms, and this is why they go so far out to sea. These are the people who Hemingway thinks face life head on. One message that is told through the story is that even though so called defeat may be inevitable, there are certain ways a man must meet it. These ways show a true hero. Santiago never loses his courage and he fights until the bitter end, even though he recognizes that there is no hope to bring in his fish.
As a result, his loss is bitter. He is but one man, and he is faced with a force that is far more greater than himself. He is struck down by forces bigger than he can put up a fight with. However, he leaves behind him a code of honor, something to be remembered by. He set a great example for others, thus making a path where many may follow. What drew you to this particular novel?
This is a very popular novel, it's popularity drew me into reading it. It was a short story, however it displays a great deal of symbolism. I did agree with the way Hemingway viewed life. There are many people who just ride the waves. The others are the leaders, they are just regular people, with extraordinary determination. Many young people these days have their lives planned out.
They have plans on what they want to do after high-school, and where they want to go. However, there are the people who "just ride the waves, " who have no direction, no sense of where they will end up in the future and basically no life. Hemingway in this book shows the difference of who has the determination to become what they want to be. Yes. Everyone should read this novel to be able to pick up what Hemingway felt about life. Well a classic is defined as something that transcends time and remains true generation after generation.
This book has earned its title as a classic. It teaches a lesson that everyone should learn. Everyone should read it, maybe someone can actually pick up what the author has to say and apply it to their lives. Follow the path that Santiago had paved. Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: view of life, man and the sea, santiago, hemingway, great deal
Research essay sample on Man And The Sea View Of Life
