Hemingway’s unique writing style is exemplified by his short, concise sentences and a factual approach to the events he portrays. Within the novella, a reader will come across complex themes of strength and perseverance, as well as symbols of perfection and age, all addressed directly.
Themes
Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” is a timeless tale of endurance, pride, and the delicate balance between man and nature. Through Santiago’s solitary struggle against the marlin, Hemingway explores several profound themes.
Pride and Nobility
One of the most significant themes is pride and nobility. Santiago’s pride is not the kind that leads to arrogance but rather a deep, personal dignity. He is proud of his abilities as a fisherman, though he doesn’t flaunt them. When he sets out alone to catch the marlin, it is not out of vanity but out of a desire to prove that he still possesses the strength and skill of his youth. His struggle with the marlin becomes an act of nobility, not just in fighting a worthy opponent but in how he carries himself throughout the battle. Even when the sharks devour the fish, Santiago remains noble, accepting defeat gracefully. His loss does not diminish his pride; it is affirmed by his endurance in the face of overwhelming odds.
Perseverance and Determination
The theme of perseverance and determination is central to the novel. Santiago’s unwavering resolve to catch the marlin after eighty-four days without success reflects his relentless spirit. Even when his hands bleed, his back ached, and his body weakens, Santiago does not give up. This perseverance is a physical act and a testament to his mental and emotional resilience. He knows the risks and the pain that await him, but he pushes forward because it’s who he is—a man who endures. His struggle symbolizes perseverance and the drive to keep going despite impossible challenges.
Man vs. Nature
Hemingway also delves deeply into the theme of man vs. nature. Santiago’s battle with the marlin is a microcosm of this larger conflict. Nature is at once Santiago’s provider and his adversary. The sea, which he loves and respects, can be cruel, as seen when the sharks ravage his prized catch. Yet Santiago never curses the sea or the fish. Instead, he views them as equals in the grand scheme of life. His struggle with the marlin becomes a kind of communion with nature—a test of wills, where neither side is evil, but the natural order binds both. Ultimately, nature proves indifferent to Santiago’s desires, but his respect for it remains unwavering.
Youth and Old Age
In his old age, Santiago reflects on the strength and vitality he possessed in his youth. His dreams of lions on the beaches of Africa symbolize this lost youth and the vigor that came with it. While he can no longer match the physical prowess of his younger days, his wisdom and experience guide him through the battle with the marlin. The contrast between Santiago and his young apprentice, Manolin, highlights this tension between youth and age. Manolin represents hope and the future, while Santiago embodies the knowledge and endurance of old age. Their relationship shows that while youth brings strength, old age offers a deeper understanding of life’s struggles.
Suffering
Finally, suffering is a theme that runs through the entire novel. Santiago suffers in silence, both in his poverty and his isolation. His hands are scarred, his body is frail, and the younger fishermen often dismiss him. Yet, it is his ability to endure suffering that defines him. The physical pain he experiences while fighting the marlin—his cramped hand, his aching back, his exhaustion—mirrors the mental and emotional pain of his long life. Like DiMaggio, who played through the pain of his bone spur, Santiago pushes through his suffering, driven by a sense of duty and pride. His suffering is not in vain, for it is through this pain that he achieves a sense of accomplishment, even in defeat.
The Past
Memory and its power over the present and future are important in “The Old Man and the Sea.“ While Santiago navigates the Gulf of Mexico, he often becomes distracted by thoughts of the past. He can recall the strong young man he was and believes that some of that strength should still exist inside him. There are moving moments in the novella when Santiago thinks back to one specific memory that doesn’t seem to fade. He recalls the time he spent on a turtle fishing boat along the coast of Africa. While there, he saw lions playing on the beach. He isn’t sure why, but this image continues to come to mind. It ends the novel.
Key Moments in The Old Man and the Sea
- Santiago’s Struggle with Bad Luck: The novella begins with Santiago having gone 84 days without catching a fish, which introduces his struggle against misfortune and establishes the theme of perseverance.
- Santiago Sets Out Alone: On the 85th day, Santiago decides to fish far out in the Gulf Stream, marking the start of his journey and symbolizing his determination to break his streak of bad luck.
- Hooking the Marlin: Santiago hooks a massive marlin, which begins an intense, multi-day battle between the old man and the fish, symbolizing the struggle between man and nature.
- Santiago’s Endurance: For three days, Santiago battles exhaustion, pain, and hunger, showcasing his incredible endurance and the theme of personal triumph over hardship.
- The Marlin’s Surrender: Santiago finally harpoons the marlin, achieving victory, which represents the culmination of his hard-fought struggle and the pride it brings.
- Sharks Attack the Marlin: On the way back to shore, Santiago fends off sharks that attack the marlin. Despite his efforts, they devour the fish, leaving only its skeleton, symbolizing the futility of his struggle and loss.
- Santiago Returns Home: Exhausted and defeated, Santiago returns to shore with the marlin’s skeleton tied to his boat. Though he lost the fish, his perseverance and dignity remain intact.
- Recognition of Santiago’s Struggle: In the end, the villagers, including the boy Manolin, recognize Santiago’s heroic efforts, cementing the themes of honor, resilience, and the bittersweet nature of victory.
Style, Tone, and Figurative Language
Ernest Hemingway’s style is distinct for its simplicity and directness. Hemingway is best known for his “Iceberg Theory,” or the theory of omission, where much of the meaning is hidden beneath the surface of the text. In this novella, the language is sparse and unadorned. Hemingway writes with short, declarative sentences that reflect Santiago’s straightforward worldview. He strips away unnecessary complexity, focusing on the core of Santiago’s struggle, leaving much for the reader to infer. For instance, when Santiago catches the marlin, Hemingway describes the event with precise, economical prose: “Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?” The simplicity of the language mirrors Santiago’s elemental battle with the forces of nature. The novella’s style is also highly rhythmic, with a repetitive quality that mimics the ebb and flow of the sea, the monotony of Santiago’s days on the water, and his enduring perseverance. With this minimalist approach, the reader is not bogged down by ornate language or complex structure.
The tone in “The Old Man and the Sea” is meditative, respectful, and often melancholic. Hemingway treats Santiago’s struggle with dignity and reverence, highlighting the nobility of his battle against the marlin and the natural world. The tone frequently shifts to a somber mood, particularly as Santiago realizes the futility of his efforts once the sharks attack his prized marlin. While Santiago’s journey is ultimately a tragedy, the tone remains respectful, portraying him as a hero of immense strength and endurance. This respectful tone elevates Santiago’s struggle, making it not just about a fish but a larger reflection of human existence, purpose, and pride.
In “The Old Man and the Sea,” Hemingway’s use of figurative language is sparse but impactful, often enhancing the novella’s symbolic depth. Similes and metaphors are frequently employed to compare Santiago and the natural world. For example, the marlin is described as “beautiful and noble and full of skill,” reflecting Santiago’s qualities. This parallelism between man and fish underscores their shared nobility and the mutual respect that forms during their battle. Personification is also prominent, especially in Santiago’s relationship with the sea, which he calls “la mar” and views as a woman capable of nurturing and cruelty. This personification deepens Santiago’s spiritual connection to nature, emphasizing his dependence on the sea for sustenance and purpose.
Symbols
In “The Old Man and the Sea,” Ernest Hemingway employs several potent symbols that deepen the narrative’s exploration of human struggle, perseverance, and resilience.
Sharks
The sharks represent the inevitable forces of destruction that follow success. After Santiago catches the marlin, his victory is tainted as the sharks devour his prize. Despite Santiago’s courage and skill, the sharks’ attack emphasizes that nature is generous and ruthless. The old man fights them with everything he has, but their destructive power prevails, symbolizing the inescapable losses accompanying life’s most significant victories.
The Sea
The sea is more than just a setting; it is a living entity that reflects Santiago’s relationship with the world. At times, the sea is nurturing, providing him with fish to sustain himself, while at other times, it is punishing, putting him through brutal trials. The sea symbolizes life’s unpredictable and uncontrollable nature, where moments of calm are interrupted by periods of hardship. Santiago’s respect for the sea, often referred to as “la mar” in the feminine, underscores his deep connection to the natural world, a relationship marked by reverence and confrontation.
The Marlin
The marlin serves as the most prominent symbol in the novel. It represents the ultimate challenge, a test of Santiago’s endurance and skill. The fish is not just an opponent but also a reflection of Santiago himself. The old man sees the marlin as a noble creature worthy of respect, and their struggle becomes one of mutual recognition. Santiago and the marlin endure suffering, and the fish’s defeat feels bittersweet, symbolizing the fine line between triumph and loss.
DiMaggio
Hemingway’s use of DiMaggio as a symbol is telling. DiMaggio represents perseverance through physical pain, as Santiago often recalls how the baseball player continued to excel despite a bone spur in his heel. This is paralleled by Santiago’s suffering, particularly when his left hand cramps during his battle with the marlin. As DiMaggio plays through his handicap, Santiago fights, even when his body fails him. Both figures show that greatness is achieved not through the absence of pain but in the ability to endure and transcend it.
The Mast
The mast of Santiago’s boat is another significant symbol, particularly in how it mirrors Christ’s crucifixion. When Santiago returns to shore after his long and exhausting battle, he carries the mast on his shoulder, much like Christ carrying the cross. This imagery underscores Santiago’s suffering and sacrifice, framing his struggle as physical and spiritual. The burdensome mast symbolizes the weight of Santiago’s hardships and the dignity with which he bears them.
The Lions
Finally, the lions are a recurring symbol in Santiago’s dreams, representing his lost youth, strength, and idealism. As a young man, Santiago saw lions on the beaches of Africa, and their image has stayed with him ever since. The lions symbolize vitality and freedom, qualities that Santiago longs for as he grows older. In his dreams, the lions offer him comfort, a reminder of a time when he was strong and fearless. By the novel’s end, as Santiago dreams of the lions again, they symbolize a peaceful return to his former glory and a final reconciliation with his life’s struggles.
Personal Perspective
“The Old Man and the Sea” is a fine tale of grit and heart. Hemingway paints a picture of a man against the sea—a fight as old as time. Santiago is not young, but there is still a fire in him, a need to prove himself, even as he faces the might of nature. The long struggle with the marlin shows a man’s battle with the wild, but more than that, it shows his fight within. The sea is both a foe and a friend, something to respect, even as he tries to master it.
The wins and losses in this story run deep. Santiago hooks the great fish, battles it for days, and wins the fight. But in the end, the sharks take it from him. Still, the old man holds his head high, which makes the story shine. It’s not about what’s lost but what’s gained. The old man’s courage and pride are a call to the masculine ideal. It’s a tale of strength and quiet honor, where winning is less about what you bring home and more about how hard you fight. Hemingway tells us a story in which the heart of a man is the true prize.