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The Old Man and the Sea is a very interesting book. Analysts have broken it down and have come up with several views as to what symbolisms are incorporated in it. I personally see mostly Christian symbolism. I believe it may be a Christian allegory. Here are three obvious and convincing examples.
One of the most obvious Christian symbolisms is when the book describes how Santiago's hat was digging into his head. This occurred after he had already hooked the fish. He was unable at the time to remove the hat because his hands were needed to hold onto the line. This represents how the crown of thorns were placed on Christ's head.
Christ was unable to remove the crown because his hands were nailed to the cross. In the same paragraph we see another Christian similarity/ symbol relating to Jesus on the cross. The book reads, "He was thirsty too and he got on his knees and being careful not to jerk the line, moved as far into the bow as he could get and reached the water bottle with one hand. He opened it and drank a little.
Then he rested against the bow. He rested sitting on the un-stepped mast and tried not to think but only to endure. " This clearly represents Christ on the cross. John 28 - 30 reads, "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. " The third rather obvious Christian symbolism is the time after Santiago had caught the fish and had gotten home. He was trying to carry the mast back to his shack but struggled greatly. He fell several times and he couldn't get up. He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack. This is symbolic of Christ carrying his cross and how he struggled with it. As you see, The Old Man and the Sea could very well be a Christian allegory.
The symbolism is striking. I hope that my view has been shared in such a way that it might spread to you. One thing is for sure, The Old Man and the Sea is a classic. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Man And The Sea Christian Symbolism
