Both The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and “To Build a Fire” by Jack London both explore the literary conflict of man verses nature. Both main characters share many similarities; however, they also have various differences that set them apart as well. In The Old Man and the Sea the story is about Santiago, an old fisherman who sets out one day and catches the fish of a lifetime. Santiago then spends multiple days fighting the fish in the middle of the ocean. “To Build a Fire” is about a nameless traveler who goes hiking on a trail out in the Yukon with his dog to make it to his base camp. He hikes in fifty below weather and have literally walked on thin ice to make it to his destination safely. Despite being from different stories in different settings, both men share similarities while they also share many differences that ultimately caused the men to suffer different fates.
Santiago and the traveler share many similarities in their character and the positions they are placed in their respective stories. Santiago is alone when he is out on his skiff for several days. While he is alone, he is forced to talk to himself, the birds, and the fish, he expresses in innermost thoughts and it lets the reader understand his process of securing his catch. Santiago, the old man as the book calls him, is well into life. In his age Santiago has a lot of experience and was even born to fish he uses his knowledge to handle the situation at hand in a calm orderly manner. After
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway follows a small portion in the life of an old man named Santiago. Santiago has lived in the same town for many years working as a fisherman. He has had great success in the past, but recently has found himself catching very few fish. He meets a young boy who helps him prepare for his journies. The young boy helps care for Santiago and is greatly inspired by him. Santiago decides one day to take a voyage and catch fish. However, when he starts fishing, he gets dragged along by a very large fish who carries him and his boat far out to sea. Throughout Santiago's journey wrestling the fish, it is revealed through his actions and thoughts that he is clearly representative of a Transcendentalist.
The Old Man and the Sea In “The Old Man and the Sea”, Hemingway shows the fisherman Santiago as the ideal person. He’s independent in his action, eager to follow his calling, and willing to take a chance on a goal that seems impossible. Throughout the book we see Santiago endure much physical abuse, and pain.
Although the young man is advised by his parents to not to engage with Santiago, he is aware of the knowledge and drive that Santiago possesses. Although the Old Man is unsuccessful, Manolin recognizes the tenacity of the experienced fisherman. Due to Manolin's respect of Santiago, he truly believes that the Old Man is deserving of a successful day at sea. Furthermore, Hemingway accentuates the importance of Santiago’s three-day fishing trip far in the sea and how his actions represent his devotion. His purpose for wanting to catch a fish is not only to achieve success, but to gain respect from his town, who sees him as an unfortunate individual, before it is too late. The author characterizes Santiago as someone who never gives up and keeps fighting until he reaches his goal. He never lets anyone discourage him throughout his life and he manages to keep his head held high. Even in his existence, the old man is proud of his accomplishments thus far. One day, Santiago faces risks by sailing "too far out." At such an old age, he has little time to make something of his life and complete a valuable milestone. Santiago says to himself, saying "Now is the time to think of
“He did not truly feel good because the pain from the cord across his back had almost passed pain and into dullness that he mistrusted.”(74) Once both the fish and Santiago had reached the breaking point of conflict the story seemed to slow down in time to exemplify the adverse conditions that both characters were suffering from. The old man proves himself worthy of personal suffering with the cuts and scars on his hands and back along with all of the pulling and slipping the cords had upon his fragile body. Hemmingway shows in a big way how an out of proportioned conflict with an old fisherman and an 18 foot long marlin helps to magnify the significance of Santiago searching for his rebirth to manhood. With constant abstraction describing the fish and the sea in relation to brotherhood create interesting questions for Santiago to ponder. His rationalization for his fishing is that he was born to do it. “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” (103) Hemmingway proves that this fish represents all of Santiago’s built up tension to total the size of a gigantic marlin that is perceived as devastating but not unconquerable. The old man’s hopes and aspirations can overcome the adversity of the marlin’s size, along with the conditions of the old, hungry, and exhausted fisherman. Through outright suffering Santiago achieves a goal above his previous manhood by combating pain and
There is hardly any progress, determination or success without unforgiving struggle and defeat. The road to success is a never-ending battle, but the outcomes of the war are rewarding and the avails are extraordinary. It is just a matter of having endurance when the will to continue becomes impossible and unimaginable. The idea of struggle lies deep within the plot of the novel, The Old Man and the Sea and the motion picture, Life of Pi. In the novel, the old fisherman, Santiago spends a few days out at sea attempting to capture the fish of his dreams. He battles through pain, thirst and hunger in order to bring the Marlin to the shore. However, while losing his prey, he gains a priceless experience combined with pride, respect and
The Old Man and The Sea, is a tale of an old man named Santiago who is a fisherman. He hasn’t had any luck with fishing, resulting in the other town members viewing him as a lame old man. A boy who used to fish with him inspires to change up his usual fishing tactics resulting in him catching a great huge fish. After fighting the fish for a couple days in his tiny boat he ties it to the side, headed for shore. On the way in sharks eat his entire catch leaving a skeleton to show for his work. The reader can see a clear metaphor painted by Hemingway. The fish
Reading through the novel The Old Man and the Sea one, as a reader, can perceive several themes in the book. Hemingway suggests certain subjects for discussion which built up the whole plot, therefore giving us options to choose the one we believe is the main one. In the past weeks we have been discussing, in a debate, which is that main theme. My group's theme was "Man Defeated" and although it is hard to affirm that this theme was the prevailing one of the book, we firmly defend it. Various arguments were established. Some argued that the novel's theme was Santiago's struggle, the friendship with the fish and other characters; Santiago's perseverance and that he really ended up as a triumphant man. But to argue that those were also the
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. In the novels that Ernest Hemingway writes, he uses metaphors to reflect his life experiences and opinions. 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
Using the quick tests for locating errors, find the error in each of the two questions below. Describe the type of error, explain how you discovered it, and make corrections.
“I could just drift, he thought, and sleep and put a bight of line around my toe to wake me. But today is eighty-five days and I should fish the day well” (41). Santiago, an old fishing champion, has not caught a fish in eighty-four days, but he is not ready to give up yet. Santiago encounters the biggest marlin he has ever seen, and he spends a vigorous three days fighting the fish. Santiago’s journey in The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway functions as a literary quest as he struggles to overcome patience, pride, and loneliness on his journey to self-discovery.
The relationship between man and the sea has been recognized throughout time by many, including simple fishermen like Santiago. Hemingway describes Santiago’s time out at sea in his novella, “The Old Man and the Sea”, which is set in a small, coastal, Cuban town.Despite his lengthy time on the ocean, Santiago is unable to keep the marlin that he worked so hard to capture.The work of the sharks left Santiago unable to bring his prized catch back to his home. Throughout the story, the theme of man’s connection with nature is explored as Hemingway focuses on the bond that Santiago shares with
Ernest Hemingway lived his life to the fullest, living in countless cities, Paris, Chicago, Key West and Toronto. In each and everyone of these place he experienced different lifestyles. He uses his experiences to expand and enlighten his view on life. Hemingway writes about his experiences in novels such as The Old Man and the Sea and In Our Time.
Santiago of The Old Man and the Sea is the quintessential “Hemingway Hero”-a type of fictional character created by Hemingway in all of his books whose basic response to life appealed very strongly to the readers. The Old Man begins the narrative with all the elements of such a hero despite his senescence and poverty. He shows strength, determination, and dedication to himself despite his struggles. Santiago relates back to readers as a strong failure who picks himself up repeatedly.
This exceptional story should be used as a therapeutic aid for hopeless and depressed people who needed a powerful force for continuing struggles of life against fate. They should say as the boy Manolin, "I'll bring the luck by myself." In the story the old man tells us "It is silly not to hope...besides I believe it is a sin." Hemingway draws a distinction between two different types of success: outer-material and inner-spiritual. While the old man lacks the former, the importance of this lack is eclipsed by his possession of the later. He teaches all people the triumph of indefatigable spirit over exhaustible resources. Hemingway's hero as a perfectionist man tells us: To be
“The Old Man and the Sea” is a striking yet frustrating novel about an elderly Cuban fisherman and his struggles with unluckiness. His supposed misfortune is depicted through the loss of a relationship, the loss of his sanity, and the loss of the largest fish he had ever caught. Written by Ernest Hemingway in 1952 then awarded the Pulitzer prize in 1953, “The Old Man and the Sea” became a fascinating work of literary art that portrays a pessimistic story of defeat.