thematic concern in theold man and the sea
TRANSCRIPT
Name- Pandya Riva M
Roll no- 23
Paper-10
Topic-Thematic concern in Old Man and the sea
Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short story writer and journalist.
His economical and understated style had a strong influence on 20th century fiction , while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations.
Many of his works are considered classics of American.
About the novel
The Old man and the sea is Hemingway's final short story or novella published during his lifetime.
In many ways the novel gives us a glimpse into the award winning author’s mind as this story’s events and themes connect to Hemingway’s life.
It is a story of an old man who have all good and bad experiences of life .
It is a story about a battle or struggle between fisher man and Marlin(large fish) .
Themes
• Perseverance• Isolation
• Defeat and death
• Pride
Youth and Age
Respect and
Reputation
HungerThe man and The Nature
pride
Santiago’s pride is portrayed as the single motivating force that spurs him to greatness.
It is his pride that pushes him to survive three days at sea, battling the Marlin and shark. Yet it is important that his pride is of a limited sort.
Pride never pushes him to try be more than he is, When Manolin tells him that you are the best fisher man ,Santiago humbly disagree.
He achieves the crucial balance between pride and humility that was not disgraceful and it carried no true loss of pride.
Defeat and Death Santiago is characterized as someone struggling
against defeat. He has gone eighty four days
without catching a fish ,he will soon pass his own
record of eighty seven days.
Santiago represents every man’s struggle to
survive and just as his effort to bring the Marlin back
to land intact is doomed , no man can ever escape
death.
Through Santiago’s struggle Hemingway makes the
case that escape from death is not the issues. As
Santiago observe near the death of his struggle with
the Marlin, "A man can be destroyed but never
defeated.” In other words , victory over the
inevitable is not what defines a man. Rather it a
man’s struggle against the inevitable even when he
knows it is inevitable that defines him. And the more
difficult the struggle , the more powerfully a man can
prove himself.
Isolation
The old man lives his life isolated from most people especially during his time on the sea.
This isolation defines who he is and emphasizes the unique nature of his character.
Isolation becomes both a weakness(He suffers from loneliness).but also a necessary elements to his battle with fish
Old man accepts and admits his its helps from others it is alone that he does battle with the marlin and must prove himself and his capacities.
Perseverance
Old man’s battle with the fish is not only a battle of wills.
He makes up for his old age with incredible endurance , willing to withstand hunger ,physical pain and isolation from the rest of the world as he battles the fish.
Endurance becomes a way we connect the old man and the fish he fights ,as they share a determination that in its magnitude ,separates the from other people and creatures.
Youth and Age
The title of the novella The old Man and the sea, suggest the critical thematic role that age plays in the story.
Santiago and Manolin represents the old and the youth and a beautiful harmony develops between them
Manolin has energy and enthusiasm ,he finds food and cloths for Santiago or encourages him despite his bad luck.
Santiago has wisdom and experience. His determination to be a good role model for Manolin is his main motivation in battling the Marlin because he wants to show Manolin, What a Man can do.
Respect and Reputation
Although Santiago does not recognize himself what makes the stakes of the battle with Marlin so high is the notion of respect.
Santiago himself feels great aweand respect for Marlin , repeatedly emphasizing this during his struggle and he has killed the fish.
Additionally The old Man’s friendships are also based on mutual respect.
Man and Nature
The Old man and the sea is also represents the relationship between the old man and the natural world.
He thinks of the flying fish as his friend the sea is dangerous with its sharks but it also sustains him by providing food in the form of shrimp.
He says to the Marlin , “Come on kill me . I do not care who kills who.”
His statement shows the depth of his admiration for the Marlin and hints at the fundamental law of nature the unites man and animal, all beings must die must kill or be killed. So Man and nature are joined in a circular system in which death is necessary and fosters new life.
Hunger
Santiago is almost superhuman in his eating pattern.
He never professes hunger, despite eating very little or not at all.
For him eating is not about pleasure but is instead a painful act that he must endure for strength.
The old man does at one point refers to hunger as pain but in terms of the fish’s hunger , not his own.
Conclusion
The themes in The old man and the sea
shows Hemingway's philosophy of life
as exemplified by manhood or
Santiago's willingness to struggle
against an undefeatable opponent.