The Old Man and The Sea
"The Old Man and the Sea" is a heroic tale of man's strength pitted against forces he cannot control. It is a story about an old Cuban fisherman and his three-day battle with a giant Marlin. Through the use of three prominent themes; friendship, bravery, and Christianity; the "Old Man and the Sea" strives to teach important life lessons to the reader while also epitomizing Santiago, the old fisherman, as a Hemingway code hero.The relationship between Santiago and the boy is introduced early in the story. They are unlikely companions; one is old and the other young, yet they share an insuperable amount of respect and loyalty for each other. Santiago does not treat Manolin as a young boy but rather as an equal. Age is not a factor in their relationship. Manolin does not even act as a young boy; he is mature and sensitive to Santiago's feelings. He even offers to disobey his parents and accompany Santiago on his fishing trips. Santiago is viewed as an outcast in his village because he has not caught any fish for more than eighty-four days and is therefore "unlucky". Nonetheless Manolin is loyal to Santiago and even when his parents forbid him he wants to help his friend. Their conversations are comfortable, like that of
His recollections of this event usually proceed a favorite dream of his in which he sees many lions on a peaceful shore. Finally, he does not make Santiago's bravery a central them by highlighting his weaknesses. When he finally reached his cabin "he slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and the palms of his hands up. After he hooks the Marlin he frequently recalls his battle with a native in what he calls "the hand game". Although he is an old man and his body is no longer like it used to be his heart is still great and he eventually defeats the Marlin. Also, like Christ, Santiago could not bare the weight and collapsed on the road. In the end the old mans perseverance and faith pay off. In this way Santiago not only teaches Manolin about fishing but also about important characteristics such as faith. Santiago is still a great warrior at heart and warriors fight until the end. From the beginning of the story the reader is shown a unique relationship between Santiago and Manolin. In the story Santiago's bravery is unsurpassed but it is not until he hooks the "great fish" that we truly see his valor and perseverance. He has faith in Manolin, in the Yankees, in Joe DiMaggio, and most importantly in himself.
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Acceptance Essays
