Santiago In Sea
William Handy makes a believable statement in his quote, “In the portrayal of Santiago in the Old man and the Sea …. Concerning the depiction of conflicting values,” while on the other hand, it is difficult to agree that “in every situation, Santiago responds as a spiritually fulfilled man.”(Handy 2) Santiago was not spiritually grounded as seen in statements he voiced about recited prayers while fishing. He swayed back and forth as to the “sin” he may have committed by killing the marlin. He did know who he was as a person, but questioned his spiritual beliefs. Santiago has a sincere respect toward nature which influences his decisions as a fisherman. This is shown through his considering the fish his brother and his endearing name for the sea, “el mar.” This is in contrast to the other fisherman and the way they go about the fishing business. Lastly, Santiago was ridiculed by everyone for being a poor old unlucky fisherman. The boy sees the value in the old man as a person, even though his father only sees the lack of fish caught compared to the other fishermen. Campbell 2 The Old Man seems spiritual at
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first glance, but looking at the details Hemingway used causes the reader to pause and think. “I am not religious,” he said. “But I will say ten Our Fathers and ten Hail Mary’s…” (Hemingway 64-65) Santiago is saying this to help him claim the mighty marlin. He is only religious when he needs God to help him with a problem. He doesn’t seem to use reverence when he uses God’s name. “I must save all my strength now. Christ, I did not know he was so big.” (Hemingway 66) “It is silly not to hope, he thought. Besides I believe it is a sin….Also I have no understanding of it.” (Hemingway 104-105) Santiago’s connection with nature made him think that killing the marlin is a sin. He wrestled with the fact that he killed his brother. But I have killed this fish which is my brother ….slave work. (Hemingway 95) Hemingway shows the conflict of Santiago’s “old ways” of fishing with a skiff and lines versus the younger fishermen that used motorboats and buoys.
The old man had a sail …”the sail was patched with flour sacks and …..Permanent defeat.”(Hemingway 9) The author made a point to describe the old man with skin cancer and deep lines in his skin to accentuate his age. The old man had wisdom in fishing that the younger fishermen didn’t possess. “The successful fishermen of that day were already in and had butchered…market in Havana.” (Hemingway 11) Santiago thought of the sea as… la Mar… “Which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her.”(Hemingway 29) The other fisherman spoke of her as an enemy or just an everyday place … el mar which is masculine.”(Hemingway 30) “It was considered a virtue not to talk unnecessarily
at
Campbell 3 sea and the old man had always considered it so and respected it.”(Hemingway 39) Even though he fought with the marlin alone for three days from hooking it to killing it his skill and hard work surpassed the other fishermen. The conflict between the respect the boy had for the old man and the respect he had for his father is woven throughout the novel. The boy, Manolin, was not allowed to fish with the old man anymore due to the old man being unlucky “salao” (Hemingway 9) as a fisherman. He had not caught anything for eighty-four days. Santiago understood the position of the young boy and his obedience to his father.” It was papa made me leave. I’m a boy, and I must obey him.” (Hemingway 10) There was a deep relationship and bond between them due to spending time together fishing and eating. They would discuss baseball and DiMaggio over a meager meal of fish and rice. When Santiago was out alone fishing for the “big one” he stated how he wished the boy was with him. “I wish the boy were here… salt he said aloud.” (Hemingway 56) After Santiago came home from catching the marlin, the boy didn’t care about what his family thought he wanted to do one thing… fish with the Old Man. “But we will fish together now for I still have much to learn.” (Hemingway 125) The local town may have considered the old man defeated as a fisherman, but he was not defeated in the end as a man. Santiago had more than skill and physical endurance; he had the will to defeat the marlin. While the spirituality of Santiago seemed to waver, his resolve to catch that last big fish never wavered. He endured physical pain and visible
Campbell 4 scars from his three day battle with the marlin. He longed for the boy the entire trip, but gained his loyalty after he caught the big marlin. The old man remained constant in his old ways of fishing and proved triumphant in the end. The fishermen were amazed at the eighteen foot marlin. “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish.” (Hemingway 124)
first glance, but looking at the details Hemingway used causes the reader to pause and think. “I am not religious,” he said. “But I will say ten Our Fathers and ten Hail Mary’s…” (Hemingway 64-65) Santiago is saying this to help him claim the mighty marlin. He is only religious when he needs God to help him with a problem. He doesn’t seem to use reverence when he uses God’s name. “I must save all my strength now. Christ, I did not know he was so big.” (Hemingway 66) “It is silly not to hope, he thought. Besides I believe it is a sin….Also I have no understanding of it.” (Hemingway 104-105) Santiago’s connection with nature made him think that killing the marlin is a sin. He wrestled with the fact that he killed his brother. But I have killed this fish which is my brother ….slave work. (Hemingway 95) Hemingway shows the conflict of Santiago’s “old ways” of fishing with a skiff and lines versus the younger fishermen that used motorboats and buoys.
The old man had a sail …”the sail was patched with flour sacks and …..Permanent defeat.”(Hemingway 9) The author made a point to describe the old man with skin cancer and deep lines in his skin to accentuate his age. The old man had wisdom in fishing that the younger fishermen didn’t possess. “The successful fishermen of that day were already in and had butchered…market in Havana.” (Hemingway 11) Santiago thought of the sea as… la Mar… “Which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her.”(Hemingway 29) The other fisherman spoke of her as an enemy or just an everyday place … el mar which is masculine.”(Hemingway 30) “It was considered a virtue not to talk unnecessarily
at
Campbell 3 sea and the old man had always considered it so and respected it.”(Hemingway 39) Even though he fought with the marlin alone for three days from hooking it to killing it his skill and hard work surpassed the other fishermen. The conflict between the respect the boy had for the old man and the respect he had for his father is woven throughout the novel. The boy, Manolin, was not allowed to fish with the old man anymore due to the old man being unlucky “salao” (Hemingway 9) as a fisherman. He had not caught anything for eighty-four days. Santiago understood the position of the young boy and his obedience to his father.” It was papa made me leave. I’m a boy, and I must obey him.” (Hemingway 10) There was a deep relationship and bond between them due to spending time together fishing and eating. They would discuss baseball and DiMaggio over a meager meal of fish and rice. When Santiago was out alone fishing for the “big one” he stated how he wished the boy was with him. “I wish the boy were here… salt he said aloud.” (Hemingway 56) After Santiago came home from catching the marlin, the boy didn’t care about what his family thought he wanted to do one thing… fish with the Old Man. “But we will fish together now for I still have much to learn.” (Hemingway 125) The local town may have considered the old man defeated as a fisherman, but he was not defeated in the end as a man. Santiago had more than skill and physical endurance; he had the will to defeat the marlin. While the spirituality of Santiago seemed to waver, his resolve to catch that last big fish never wavered. He endured physical pain and visible
Campbell 4 scars from his three day battle with the marlin. He longed for the boy the entire trip, but gained his loyalty after he caught the big marlin. The old man remained constant in his old ways of fishing and proved triumphant in the end. The fishermen were amazed at the eighteen foot marlin. “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish.” (Hemingway 124)