Old Man and the Sea Term Paper

Early in the book, the fishermen look at him with sadness, or with derision (Hemingway 1980, 11), but there is still a camaraderie and togetherness in their group that indicates they are all brothers in the same quest for a living.

Finally, religion and spirituality is an important aspect of the novel that many critics acknowledge. Critic Bloom continues, "In the Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, the principal figure, is a primitive Cuban, at once religious and superstitious. Yet neither his religion nor his superstitious beliefs are relevant to his tragic experience with the great marlin; they do not create it or in any way control its meaning (Bloom 1999, 13). Thus, the religion and spirituality that form the backbone of the novel form the backbone of the people, as well. They believe, but their spirituality does not control every aspect of their lives. Hemingway alludes to this faith early in the novel when Manolin says of his father, "He hasn't much faith," and Santiago replies, 'No, [...] but we have, haven't we?'" (Hemingway 1980, 10-11). This sense of spirituality continues throughout the story.In fact, Santiago even urges Manolin to have faith in the Yankees (Hemingway 1980, 17). Thus, faith, in every aspect of life, permeates the people's lives and guides them in what they do, even if it does not control the outcome of the novel.

Some critics even equate Santiago with Christ, as another critic notes. He writes, "A great deal of scholarship interprets Hemingway's 1952 novel in terms of Christian symbolism, with Santiago representing at times a Christ-figure, a failed Christ-figure, or a simple apostle wrestling, like Thomas, with doubt" (Waggoner 1998). Santiago does seem larger than life in the novel, and his three-day fight with the fish would certainly kill a lesser man. Perhaps Hemingway did see Santiago as a Christ-like figure. At any rate, reading this novel with an eye for meaning and symbolism gives added depth to an already great work, and makes Santiago even more sympathetic and appealing.

References

Bloom, Harold, ed. 1999. Ernest Hemingway's the old man and the sea. Philadelphia: Chelsea House.

Hemingway, Ernest. 1980. The old man and the sea. New York:.....