OLD MAN AND THE SEA

I. SUMMARY
Santiago, the old man has been fshing for 87 days without catching anything. His
previous apprentice, Manolin, still cares for the him and wanted to go fshing with again.
The boys parents forbade him because they thought that the old man is unlucky. The
next day, the old man goes alone to the sea and catches a big fsh he thought was a
marlin. It took him three days struggling to spear the fsh and successfully catch it. When
he is returning to the shore, sharks appeared lured by the blood of the fsh. Even though
the old man was beating and killing the sharks, there were too many. Some still evaded
him and took bites at the fsh he caught. Only the head and the skeleton of the fsh were
left. Feeling defeated the old man did not want to look at the fsh and continued back
towards the shore. The boy found him in his shack and after conversing the boy left
again. Later some tourist had mistakenly thought the carcass of the marlin was a shark.
While the old man slept again dreaming of the lions again.
II. ANALYZATION
A. Artistry
Hemmingway executes the novel through straightforward narration
sometimes to the point of unfinchingly plain descriptions. The story however is riddled
and layered with undercurrents of symbolisms and metaphors. The description of the
sea and fshing was illustrative of how the author can provide the scene using a
character and a few choice words. There were no famboyant phrasing nor was there
any pretentious words. The simplicity of the peace is its elegance. However, it should
not overlook that the story is not plain but rife with morals and analogies.
B. Universality
The story speaks of fshing but alludes to life, death and religion. Though the
main theme is fshing, which in this story is narrated with beautiful details that
particularity may result in reading unfamiliar phrases disappointingly. The author could
have explained the process and equipments mentioned granted it would depart from the
purpose and feel of the novel.
C. Intellectual Value
One may appreciate the tone of the story for its calm. The uncomplicated plot
is satisfying to read. There are scenes where baseball where referred to. A fsh with
Another bone of contention to throw is the authenticity of the scenes where the old man
was stuck in the middle of the ocean. If you were an old man would you have
successfully maintained your hold on the line of a fsh you caught which is apparently
bigger than your own boat? I would say that the
D. Emotional Value
The scene that afected me the most is the one in the end where the boy was
saying that from now on he wants to fsh with the old man together. It can be noticed that
in the beginning the old man was too proud and lied frequently to the boy to cover things
that may be considered a weakness. In the last scene we can see how diferent the old
man is, how he humbled that he cant even cover it up with comforting lies for his young
apprentice. At frst, he knew that people were calling him unlucky but he never even
considered himself as one but after he felt defeated enough to admit out loud that he
was unlucky. The boy was also shown crying when he saw the old man sleeping
however he showed no signs of it when he was talking to the old man. It could have
been to show the old man that hes an adult. It was the old man who was openly
showing afection now by saying he missed the boy. This is my favourite quote from the
boy, The hell with luck. Ill bring the luck with me.. Even though the old man was
doubtful because of the boys family, the boy tried another tactic and said that he needs
to fsh together with the old man for he still have much to learn. This seemed to uplift the
old mans ego a bit and when he was making plans the boy knew he was persuaded. I
feel like the boy was giving the old man something to live for once again. Its interesting
and inspiring to see a boy be so concerned and devoted to the old man. That
conversation in the end was emotionally draining because you can feel the sufering of
the old man and the sympathy of the boy.
E. Spiritual Value
Starting the story begin with the reader both questioning and admiring the old
mans endurance, pride and faith for continuing to fsh without catching anything for 87
days. There is a sense of raw truth that the story captured possibly one of the reason it
seems unappealing to those who seek to escape or fnd something more with ones life.
However, the old mans gruelling struggle from the start to fnish is a lesson of
perseverance. One may also assume that fshing is a metaphor for religion, the old man
a symbol of God while the fsh represents humans. Ending the story, one may take from
the story to be careful or to be a risk-taker. To live carefully one must not allow the so-
called sharks eat away at our achievements. To live while taking risk a person must be
able to sacrifce anything and go out to the sea to be able to catch something. I say, life
should be both. It is important to be a careful risk-taker, it also helps prepare properly or
to have a companion with you.
III. PERSONAL VIEW
There were moments when I can see the scene being described with the
memories I had of travelling out at the sea.
I fnd myself cheering the old man on, during his struggles with the fsh.
I respect the old man and his high endurance with the pain.
For me the old man reminded me of humanity and how we all hold on to
bittersweet memories or a nostalgic past, how even though we are experiencing
misfortune we still latch on stubbornly to hope and how we continue living while
accepting defeat.
The boys parents thought that the old man was unlucky and the old man thought
hell catch his biggest fsh yet they were both right.
The old man and the sea may not show the triumph of man but it gives us realistic
hope for the future.