Hemingway takes a lot of time describing the old man’s understanding of nature and his surrounding environment. When Santiago is out to sea he talks about being lonely but he finds himself coming to a realization that he is not alone, but completely surrounded and gently caressed by nature. The old man’s vision going out into the open sea to find the fish was much different when he was returning home. While Santiago was out to sea he starts connecting with the natural environment around him. The birds, fish, sea, and stars were all a part of his unity. The old man starts seeing everything as being intertwined and functioning as a fully connected circle. Meanwhile, realizing there is no starting or stopping to any one thing. Nor is there any differences or division in the continuum of life’s cycles.
Santiago is a poor old fisherman that behaves with dignity and honor even as his fellow fishermen are showing no respect for him. A man has to live with other men in terms not only of economic and political arrangements but also of moral arrangements: and he has to live with himself, he has to define himself” (Warren 61). Although he has gone so many days without catching a single fish, Santiago keeps his head held high and never gives up. He works very hard trying to make a living as a fisherman. He is willing to push all limits to bring in the greatest catch to prove his capabilities to his critics. “Santiago’s compulsion to prove once again that he is a champion fisherman, like Hemingway’s determination to prove that he is Nobel Prize material, is the replaying of a life usage of the death instinct-a practical, productive application of the compulsion to repeat” (Scafella 196). Santiago is very dedicated to his career as a fisherman and he takes pride in the art of the catch. He knows what it is he has to do, and where he has to travel to be the best. “He fitted the rope lashings of the oars onto the thole pins and, leaning forward against the thrust of the blades in the water, he began to row out of the harbour in the dark” (Hemingway 28). The old fisherman leaves the shoreline, with all the familiarities left behind, in search for something greater.
Manolin is Santiago’s only true friend and companion. Santiago loves him like a son and treats him like a best friend. “The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, confident loving eyes. ‘If you were my boy I’d take you out and gamble,’ he said” (Hemingway 13). The old man teaches the boy everything he knows about being a great fisherman. Even though Santiago has not caught a fish in many days, Manolin still recognizes the old mans dedication and ability. With Santiago’s never ending determination and skill, the boy has no doubt he will catch again. The love and support from the boy, helps Santiago though his rough times at sea.
The Old Man and The Sea was Hemingway’s last big catch of his career before he died. Hemingway’s work habits were that of a striving poor fisherman. He submerged himself in his writings with his emotions always in the forefront. Old man Hemingway compares himself to the old fisherman in that he too carried dignity and honor throughout the lack of respect from the critics. Although Hemingway in his later years, was having trouble writing, and the critics were having a good laugh at him, with his loved ones support he was able to put together one of his greatest novels. Whether a poor old fisherman skillfully catching a huge fish or a wealthy writer finishing a successful novel, the determination, rewards, and benefits can be equally the same.
Hemingway had a deep heart and only felt close to a few people. Many people resented Hemingway because of where he had came from, his writing style, and the way he lived his life. The other fishermen in his story represented Hemingway’s critics, as well as the boy represented his own support system that helped him focus on his book. Hemingway’s oldest son, Jack, represents Manolin. Like Manolin, Jack and his father went on many fishing trips together. Jack learned many things from Hemingway and respected him a great deal, even when critics were trying to tear him apart. “Hemingway’s oldest son, Jack, says that he is yet to recognize his father in any of the biographies. Hemingway sons talk about how much fun they had growing up with their father. And they say he was ‘funny’ as well, a characteristic rarely mentioned in the biographies” (Oliver 141). Whether a poor old fisherman, or a successful writer, personal experiences can feel the same, in hardships and rewards.
The suffering of Santiago seems somewhat unbearable at times. He suffers the loss of a loved one; he suffers from the criticism put upon him from the townspeople; he suffers while trying to catch his fish; he suffers for the fish and his surroundings. The old man lives a life of feeling much distress but he still keeps his head held high and looks for brighter times. His understanding of life and how it brings good with bad helps him overcome the most challenging days. He keeps a positive attitude even when he is confronted with negativity because he knows things will soon turn around. Most of the negativity comes from the other fishermen. “They sat on the Terrace and many of the fishermen made fun of the old man and he was not angry” (Hemingway 11). Instead of getting angry, Santiago uses that energy more productively by pushing him farther out. He is exploring un-chartered territory like the unseen part of an iceberg. He wants to do what no one else has ever done before. Santiago knows they will not be laughing long.
Hemingway was no stranger to suffering and the stresses in life. He also was suffering due to loss of loved ones throughout his life. Santiago’s wife represents the love Hemingway was never able to find, in his own marriages. Santiago’s critics were much like Hemingway’s in that they were both criticized and talked about. The other fishermen were wondering why Santiago wasn’t catching any fish, since he was supposed to be such a great fisherman. And Hemingway’s critics were wondering the same about why he wasn’t writing any great novels. Their critics were gossiping that these old men must have lost what it took to be great, in their deteriorating age. Hemingway knew he wanted to push all limits by venturing out onto new territory to write a novel that would baffle, intimidate, and finally silence his critics!
The old fisherman is a man with morals, pride, and integrity. He deals with life’s struggles without loosing his honesty and values. Santiago lives life without the outside drama influencing his personal goals and by doing that he decides not to give in, but to go out for the last big one. Being alone out to sea for many days shows a man integrating with his environment and truly understanding what it is to be a part of nature. Santiago finally realizing that he too is only a part of nature, and life means death in some form or another. He gains respect for the fish he has on his line meanwhile understanding that he himself has no more right to live than the fish, and that the strongest will survive. Santiago becomes enlightened on this last big crusade. It really wasn’t about the fish anymore; he actually comes back with something greater.
Hemingway had a very adventurous life. He was always traveling, going on fishing trips with his sons, and enjoying the nature around him. He rarely let any negativity stay in his life to long, life was too short and he knew it, from a young age. “From maturity until his death, Hemingway lived a life of almost constant excitement” (Oliver 140). He was very dignified, charismatic, and honorable, and many writers wanted to be like Hemingway. He realized that death was a part of life and that after his health was gone his quality of life would be gone as well. Hemingway spent a great deal of time observing nature and knew nature’s way of handling the weak. With his respect for nature, he understood and respected life and the quality of it. He lived life hard, and to the fullest. When he couldn’t live without constant suffering he took his life. Hemingway died with his integrity.
As Hemingway’s health started failing in his later years he started having trouble writing he knew he wanted to make one last mark on the literary world. He understood the meaning of life and mostly the quality of living. He wanted to put an experience into words. That experience would be not so much Santiago’s personal experience, but Hemingway’s life experience. The book would be short and sweet, just like his life. He would only reveal a tiny bit of information, leaving the reader to uncover the hidden meanings. Hemingway compared his life to Santiago, someone completely different than him, in all aspects of life, and with this he wanted to convey a deep message to the readers. “Just as every word in the book is there for a purpose, so is Santiago’s every act” (Wagner 276). He wanted to show that outer success is only temporary, and inside everyone is the same, experiencing the same kind of life’s disappointments and successes. The Old Man and The Sea directly reflected Hemingway’s understanding of the value and quality of life through symbolizing his own life’s experiences.
