Who Is Santiago A Hero
The Virtues of a Hero
“A hero is not a movie character. A hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength and courage to persevere and keep moving in spite of all the obstacles.”- Anurag Prakash Ray. The Old Man and the Sea was written by Ernest Hemingway and published in 1952. This novel is the story of a struggling seasoned fisherman who has the opportunity to have the greatest catch of his life. His most notable attribute is his unquenchable spirit. In Santiago, the main character of The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway has created a hero who personifies honor, courage, endurance, and faith.
No amount of pain or abuse can quench Santiago’s invincible honor. He is constantly taunted by other fishermen about his lack of a fish but he does …show more content…
He wishes to be like the sea turtles, whose hearts still beat even after death. While rowing out to sea he thinks about the sea turtles and how humans use their shells as boats sometimes. He says, “Most people are heartless about turtles because a turtle’s heart will beat for hours after he has been cut up and butchered” (37). Then the old man looked at his hands and thought, “I have such a heart too and my feet and hands are like theirs” (37). Santiago is comparing himself with the turtle’s because even though he has had a rough life and it feels like his luck has died, he still keeps going and continues to try. Undeniably, the reader is surprised at his outlook on life and starts to understand his way of thinking. Moreover, even though Santiago makes promises to God his faith is still in himself and not in God. When he is growing weary at sea he says to God, “I am not religious but I will say ten Hail Marys that I should catch this fish” (64-65). Unfortunately, he does not mean it. Santiago misuses the word “promise” when he speaks to God. The reader is confused as to why Santiago would even promise God anything when he does not trust God to deliver him. Santiago only has faith in himself but it seems like he still feels the need to return to the faith of his past in
“A hero is not a movie character. A hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength and courage to persevere and keep moving in spite of all the obstacles.”- Anurag Prakash Ray. The Old Man and the Sea was written by Ernest Hemingway and published in 1952. This novel is the story of a struggling seasoned fisherman who has the opportunity to have the greatest catch of his life. His most notable attribute is his unquenchable spirit. In Santiago, the main character of The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway has created a hero who personifies honor, courage, endurance, and faith.
No amount of pain or abuse can quench Santiago’s invincible honor. He is constantly taunted by other fishermen about his lack of a fish but he does …show more content…
He wishes to be like the sea turtles, whose hearts still beat even after death. While rowing out to sea he thinks about the sea turtles and how humans use their shells as boats sometimes. He says, “Most people are heartless about turtles because a turtle’s heart will beat for hours after he has been cut up and butchered” (37). Then the old man looked at his hands and thought, “I have such a heart too and my feet and hands are like theirs” (37). Santiago is comparing himself with the turtle’s because even though he has had a rough life and it feels like his luck has died, he still keeps going and continues to try. Undeniably, the reader is surprised at his outlook on life and starts to understand his way of thinking. Moreover, even though Santiago makes promises to God his faith is still in himself and not in God. When he is growing weary at sea he says to God, “I am not religious but I will say ten Hail Marys that I should catch this fish” (64-65). Unfortunately, he does not mean it. Santiago misuses the word “promise” when he speaks to God. The reader is confused as to why Santiago would even promise God anything when he does not trust God to deliver him. Santiago only has faith in himself but it seems like he still feels the need to return to the faith of his past in