"The Old Man and the Sea"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in "The Old Man and the Sea", Hemingway uses symbolism: The sea itself, the birds and the fish, which the protagonist Santiago finally catches. The author points out that the birds, which are Santiago's friends, dive and plunge for the fish thus showing him where the fish are. The paper relates that the old fisherman's frustration turns to elation when the "big fish" finally does bite, next begins the symbolic and real struggle between the old man and the sea and, finally, Santiago has his long-sought gift from the sea, the fish, his prize for respectfully honoring the sea and for all his endurance of her fickle and unpredictable nature.

From the Paper:

"On the other hand, Santiago seems to identify closely with the birds he sees on the ocean, who appear small and powerless, like himself, except for the "robber birds" (29) which are perhaps equivalent to some of the other, more aggressive fishermen, who also lack Santiago's abiding reverence for the sea itself. He was "sorry for the birds, especially the small delicate dark terns that were always flying and looking and almost never finding . . . the birds have a harder life than we do except for the robber birds and the heavy strong ones" (29). Some of the younger fishermen behave much like the "robber birds", stealing irreverently from the sea, and thinking of the sea as a competitor rather than as a woman to love, as Santiago himself does."

More papers on "The Old Man and the Sea":

• Analytical Essay # 126381 : "'The Old Man and the Sea' and Symbolism"
• Book Review # 73864 : "Christ Imagery in "The Old Man and the Sea"
• Book Review # 97988 : "The Old Man and the Sea"

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