A Critical Review: The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway (MCM 202 Project)
Here is a critical analysis of The Old Man and the Sea (Video)
Introduction
The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway’s most credible works as an author but it was his last before his death in 1961. The book was published by Scribner's in September 1, 1952. It was originally written in 1951 in Cuba, a country in South America.
The book is based in the same place with a plot that unfolds in the late 1940s. 127 pages long, the book focuses on the characters: Santiago, Manolin, the marlin, Joe DiMaggio, Martin and Perico. It won him a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954 and a Pulitzer
Prize in Fiction in 1953.
Plot
The book’s main characters are Santiago, Manolin and the marlin. It’s about an ageing fisherman, Santiago, who goes 84 days without getting any fish. He is mocked and laughed at by the other fishermen because he is considered the worst kind of unlucky (salao). Santiago has a relationship with a young boy, Manolin, who had been fishing with him since he was five.
Manolin moves on to a more profitable boat when
Santiago’s luck dries out. He wishes to fish with him on the 85th day
but Santiago disagrees since Manolin is on a ‘lucky’ boat and his parents
wouldn’t approve. Santiago goes out to sea alone so he can prove himself to
Manolin and the fishers. He catches a large 18foot marlin which drags his boat
into the middle of the sea. By the time he kills it, it is eaten by sharks
before he gets to the shore.
Characters and Themes
This touching story is centred on
bravery, persistence, patience and courage all in the light of nature. The
author praises these qualities and sees them as essential for getting passed
obstacles and challenges in spite of negativity. This negativity should serve
as motivation as it did for Santiago. This is featured in many parts of the
story.
The marlin proves to be just as strong and perseverant as Santiago himself. While Santiago is at sea with the fish, he becomes attached to it and feels sorry for it when he finally kills it. He repeatedly expresses his admiration of the fish and asks himself whether the consumers of the marlin will be worthy enough to eat it. The marlin could be a replica of the fisherman since they both have the same qualities that are praised in this book.
Although Santiago fights off most of the sharks that come his way, the marlin still gets eaten. This is a clear depiction of the war between man and nature and how nature always has its way. It is an example of the denial some of us go through to maintain or keep something that might’ve been long gone. Santiago was so determined to keep the marlin until he got to the shore yet he still arrived with nothing.
The Old Man and the Sea has two
important aspects to it. Firstly, it makes the argument through this tragic
parable that optimism never fails. Even in the face of hopelessness, there is
still a reason to try, to dream, and to hope. Ernest Hemingway shows us that
when everything is done and nothing seems to be accomplished, a pathway is made
for even greater things. Santiago caught nothing at the end of the story, but
he created a pathway for the next great fisherman, Manolin, who immediately
caught a large fish afterwards. Perseverance reverberates. Others pick up from
where one has left off. Not because that person failed, but because they made
the doorway a little wider for others to pass through.
Secondly, this book is a final
account of his life. Considering this was the last book ever published by
Heminway before his suicide in 1961, there are parallels that can be drawn
between the main character, Santiago and Hemingway himself.
To tackle the first argument, we
must bring in key details from Ernest Hemingway’s life. Hemingway was an excellent
student and outstanding child. He was known for his resilience and competence. During
World War I, he tried over and over again to join the military but was rejected
due to his defective eyesight. How does this relate with the writing in the
book? Well, Santiago was also an outstanding fisherman- the best in Cuba.
A defining point in Hemingway’s life
is when he finally made it into the army as an ambulance driver. Most men would
have given up trying to offer their war efforts knowing they had a defect.
Ernest refused to let that stop him from doing what he knew he was meant to do.
There are scenes in the book where
Santiago eats raw fish to survive. He had every option to call for help, but
refused to. He was so determined that he let that marlin drag him to a place
where there was no land in sight. That is the force of hope. It can make all
things rational if it’s for a cause one truly believes in.
When he finally catches the fish but
loses it at the end, he goes back home defeated. Yet, his apprentice and
friend, Manolin goes out and gets a great catch. The efforts of the old man
were character building for those around him. The book shows that courage is
inspired as much as it is cultivated.
For the second argument, the book is a closing remark to Hemingway’s life. I feel that the author subconsciously wrote about his life’s journey. He had reached his prime in his literary career and approached a slow and steady decline over the years. His life ended in a final battle which was lost. The great catch Santiago was after is a symbol for Hemingway’s search for happiness and satisfaction with his life. Yet, he had battled with depression and anxiety for many years.
The book is an apology,
stating that he fought as hard as he could, waited and searched for any meaning
to his life. There might’ve been a point where he was so close to achieving
this, but it quickly slipped through his fingers, just as the marlin was swept
away from Santiago.
Diction and Symbolism
Throughout the novel, Hemingway
referred to him as ‘the old man’ instead of Santiago. The writer shows that it
is only natural for things or people to wear out or grow old through time. It’s
no different from Santiago’s luck as a fisherman. It’s the harsh reality
Santiago had to face-that he was indeed salao. A reality Hemingway
was also trying to come to terms with.
In addition, Santiago dreams of the
days of his youth in the beginning of the book. He mentions being on a beach in
Africa and watching lions. This may symbolize his strength and courage; virtues
that he is expected to have as a fisherman. He dreams of lions at the end of
the story. It could be that Santiago really wasn’t trying to prove himself to
anyone but himself. Though he felt defeated, the job might have been done.
Manolin catches four fish the day
before Santiago gets back. He wants to go fishing with Santiago because he
feels that he still has much to learn even though they might not catch any
fish. I feel that Manolin is an image of a younger Santiago in his prime years,
willing to learn more till he became one of the best fishermen in that area.
Their relationship is an illustration of Hemingway’s youth and his slow
deterioration. It is also a picture of what he hopes for after his departure-
for other to carry on.
Conclusion
Bloodied hands and dashed dreams, Hemingway took his life in 1961, with hopes that someone would carry on his legacy in the literary world, the same way Manolin did for Santiago. It truly is an apologetic farewell, still with a silent ringer of hope. Though he may be gone and his time over, his essence and his truth continue to live on.
In conclusion, I think this book has
a very powerful impact on readers from very few pages. It gives us an idea of
nature from a different perspective. It teaches us a lesson about the
importance of patience, faith, strength and persistence in our daily lives-
something that we are often quick to forget. In simple terms, Hemingway weaves
a story for those who dare to dream. Hope is a spirit that takes shape in those
who accept it. It can never be taken away by circumstances, nor does it die
with the flesh.
Here is the audio:
Critical Review of the Old Man and the Sea (Audio)
Thank you.
Critical and Review Writing (MCM 202)
Uyo Farida Kadiri
201307009
Mass Communication
200 Level
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