Fourth Discussion Question for The Old Man and the Sea

In this novel I can count the number of characters who are mentioned more than once on one hand: Santiago, Manolin, the marlin, and the sharks. Considering there was four actual characters (Santiago and the marlin being the only ones whose relationship and characteristics were developed) picking the 'hero' of the novel was not that hard. Santiago was the hero of this book. He overcame many things to become not only a better person, but he better himself along the way. Santiago has many desirable traits: determination, bravery, physical and emotional strength, compassion, perseverance, a strong will, and he showed no fear (I don't know very many people who punches sharks repeatedly before beating it with an oar [the old man would have made a good Green Lantern:)]). He showcases all of these traits during his time out in the Gulf when he fishes for the marlin, has a three day long struggle with the marlin to get it captured and tied on his skiff, tries to keep sharks away, then finally to make it back home to the ports of Havana. Hemingway portrays Santiago as a man who knows that he is getting older and can't do everything that he could once do in his youth. Even though Santiago has this knowledge, he still tries to do things that he would have had a hard time doing when he was the boy's age. The old man knows that he can either accomplish what he has set out to do or die trying. During this process he bonds with the marlin, which shows the reader that Santiago is portrayed as someone who is not a ruthless hunter all about the money and who can catch the biggest fish, but as an old man who can still do things and when he fails is very sorry for what harm he believes to have done.

As for an abstract idea that Santiago represents, I have to go back to the Jesus thing from the previous post. Santiago represents the pure kindness and goodness in people even when faced with great challenges. Similar to Jesus he carries a burden that the boy tries to help lighten, but the old man knows that it is his to carry. I guess my fellow lifeguard at the pool was right. Santiago does seem to be similar to Jesus as I write more of these analytical blog posts.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.