Santiago Perseverance
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway emphasised that the true mark of a hero was not about success or failure, but about one’s resilience and perseverance to overcome the face of adversity. ‘A man can be destroyed but not defeated’ was emphasised through the contrast between Santiago’s community and himself, the symbolism of the marlin’s binary roles, and the use of Santiago’s internal monologue to reveal his inner strength.
The author set the scene in a competitive situation for Santiago to show the audience the importance of resilience and perseverance that was required in the face of defeat. Santiago displayed perseverance several times throughout the Old Man and the Sea and it is also particularly evident through his will to never …show more content…
The marlin is a symbol of a man’s ultimate goal in life, while the sharks are Santiago’s fiercest adversary. As a salao fisherman, the marlin “[that was] two feet longer than the skiff” was Santiago’s dream catch. (pg61) Despite his old age, Santiago used his strengths and wits to capture and conquer the fish even though it is at the cost of great physical suffering when “a line burn had cut his flesh.”(pg 55) With four continuous days of struggle, the battle with the marlin was not a fight of strength but rather endurance, emphasising both characters’ refusal to accept defeat. Even though the death of the marlin signified Santiago’s greatest victory, the blood of the marlin attracts sharks. In the face of another adversary but lacking of strength, Santiago continues to fight one shark after another. Despite the strength left in him, his determination to get rid of the sharks continues. He used “the oars and the short club and the tiller” of what was left, (pg 112) to fight until the end. He continues despite his dream being completely destroyed, hence telling the sharks to “eat that Galanos, and make a dream you’ve killed a man.” (pg120) he was completely destroyed out at the sea, but wasn’t completely defeated especially in Manolin’s eyes because “[they] will fish together now for [he] still have much to learn.”
The author set the scene in a competitive situation for Santiago to show the audience the importance of resilience and perseverance that was required in the face of defeat. Santiago displayed perseverance several times throughout the Old Man and the Sea and it is also particularly evident through his will to never …show more content…
The marlin is a symbol of a man’s ultimate goal in life, while the sharks are Santiago’s fiercest adversary. As a salao fisherman, the marlin “[that was] two feet longer than the skiff” was Santiago’s dream catch. (pg61) Despite his old age, Santiago used his strengths and wits to capture and conquer the fish even though it is at the cost of great physical suffering when “a line burn had cut his flesh.”(pg 55) With four continuous days of struggle, the battle with the marlin was not a fight of strength but rather endurance, emphasising both characters’ refusal to accept defeat. Even though the death of the marlin signified Santiago’s greatest victory, the blood of the marlin attracts sharks. In the face of another adversary but lacking of strength, Santiago continues to fight one shark after another. Despite the strength left in him, his determination to get rid of the sharks continues. He used “the oars and the short club and the tiller” of what was left, (pg 112) to fight until the end. He continues despite his dream being completely destroyed, hence telling the sharks to “eat that Galanos, and make a dream you’ve killed a man.” (pg120) he was completely destroyed out at the sea, but wasn’t completely defeated especially in Manolin’s eyes because “[they] will fish together now for [he] still have much to learn.”