In the book, many events had direct Christian symbolism. At the end of the book when Santiago had made it to the port of Havana, he "shouldered the mast and started to climb... and at the top he fell and lay for some time with the mast across his shoulder... He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack." (Hemingway 121) then, in my opinion, died in peace after seeing the boy. Jesus carried the cross to the place where he was going to die and sustained five wounds while on the cross ("Numbers"). Jesus also knew that he was going to die and was at peace and shouted to the heavens, "It is finished. Into your hands I commend my spirit." before he did die ("Three Hours"). Both Santiago and Jesus lives ended in the same fashion: immense suffering followed by a peace of mind and death.
Many different numbers appeared in The Old Man and the Sea. Many of the numbers had another meaning besides functioning as a measure of something. The first double meaning number is the amount of days in a row that Santiago fished with the boy without catching anything (Hemingway 1). Forty is a number of "trial or probation" ("Biblical Numerology") in the Christian religion. Manolin is tested to see if he will stay with Santiago just based off of faith even if the old man is "salao" (Hemingway 1) like his parents believe. Like an apostle and their faith in Jesus, Manolin believes in the old man and wants to stay in fish with him and make sure he is taken care of. Those forty days were his "trial" run, and the boy passed and became an 'apostle' of Santiago. When the old man was fishing he had "three forty-fathom coils of line in reserve" (Hemingway 44). He had three coils, one for each of the members of the Trinity. Speaking of a trinity, "There are three things that are brother: the fish and my two hands." (Hemingway 64), Santiago has his own. Those three things are the only things left that he can put all of his faith in when he is out alone in the sea (he also has a trinity of companions: God, DiMaggio, and Manolin. Those three people are the only ones he can rely on and knows he can pull strength from the fact that they are strong people and believe in him). His left hand cramped up and he was worried, but knew that his right hand wouldn't fail and that the fish will still be there after the hand uncramps. He had the faith that he could make it through another night as long as he had his two hands and a fish. Nothing else mattered.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.
"Numbers in Christian Symbolism - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the facts on the world's religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 July 2011.
"Three Hours of Darkness." The Story of Jesus. Bible Heritage Foundation, Inc. Web. 09 July 2011.
"What Is Biblical Numerology?" CARM. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. Web. 09 July 2011.
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