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Main character Santiago is a tragic man because of his capacity for suffering, sense of commitment, and refusal to surrender. The tragic man has a high endurance for anguish. He believes strongly in what he is doing, feels guilt and guiltlessness at the same time and therefore, he suffers. He attempts to justify his behavior but does not convince himself. Santiago believes in killing the giant marlin but he knows the fish is his brother. He struggles over whether he should kill him or not.
Santiago endures all his pain while fighting the fish just like a tragic man would always suppress it. Another characteristic of the tragic man is his sense of commitment. As soon as a conflict arises, he is in its hold until the resolution of the conflict. Santiago stays on the raft for several days waiting for the fish to tire. He would never give up and head back to Cuba.
When the fish bites into the hook, the conflict between the marlin and Santiago begins. The old man remains locked in the battle. He will not waiver until the denouement, even if it means death. Fish, he said softly aloud, Ill stay with you until I am dead. The tragic man can change his decision and stop the conflict, but he always asserts his freedom of choose in order to continue the fight. Fish, I love you and respect you very much.
But I will kill you dead before this day ends. He decides to force an outcome before one would naturally occur. He is so dedicated to the struggle that he is blinded by everything but the result. Every day he swears to defeat the fish before the day is through, but he never succeeds. This will kill him, the old man thought.
He cannot do this forever. But four hours later the fish was still swimming steadily out to sea, towing the skiff. Santiago's desire to catch the fish beguiles him from all of his other functions. He is committed to the capture of the giant marlin. Commitment, beliefs, and stamina make Santiago a tragic man.
He could have backed down and came back to shore after making his decision, but that choice created a conflict. Santiago is absorbed by conflict like all tragic men and so he was trapped in the battle with the fish. His fight ended with him gaining nothing. Santiago failed because he did not return with the fish after several days fighting the marlin. Hemingway needed to make Santiago a tragic man in order to display the theme that the solitary struggle ends in failure or defeat.
Free research essays on topics related to: tragic man, marlin, commitment, defeat, santiago
Research essay sample on Make Santiago A Tragic Man Santiago A Tragic Man Fish
