The Old Man and The Sea is a classic novella by Ernest Hemingway and one of the most renowned literature pieces of the twentieth century. It tells the story of an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, who faces a long and difficult journey alone on his fishing boat in the Gulf Stream. While determined to catch a big fish, Santiago must rely on his physical strength, mental resilience, and philosophical wit to survive the journey and return home with a catch.
The story begins with Santiago, an experienced fisherman, who had gone 84 days without a catch before this journey. He leaves his small Cuban fishing village at dawn and sails out to sea in his small skiff, accompanied only by his crewless boat and the watchful eyes of his caring and loyal friend, Manolin. The days pass without a single bite, and Santiago's commitment to bring home a good catch is wavering as the fish on the line continues to escape. Finally, he succeeds in hooking a massive marlin and begins a prolonged battle with the immense creature. After an intense three-day battle that pushed Santiago’s physical and mental limits, he is able to harpoon the marlin and haul it back to shore.
The narrative proceeds to focus on Santiago's journey back to shore, a journey he endures without rest, and one full of physical strain. After seventy hours, while his marlin's body gets ravaged by sharks, Santiago makes it to shore, exhausted from battling the giant fish and depleted from the long days at sea. He is greeted on the shore by the friendly villagers who are amazed and jubilant at the size of the marlin. Despite all this, Santiago manages to clearly state in the end that all his hard work was unsuccessful in the end, as the sharks had taken everything away but the skeleton and what remained of the fish.
The Old Man and the Sea becomes a masterful display of Hemingway’s writing style. The language is sparse, yet profoundly effective. In each phrase, the reader can feel Santiago’s enthusiasm, persistence, and courage despite everything that he goes through. Furthermore, the character of Santiago reflects the determination and self-confidence of the Cuban people of the time, as well as the love for the sea that Hemingway himself cherished so deeply.
The book not only displays a winning combination of writing talent, insights on life, and psychological portraits, but it also has transferred its iconic status as a classic in literature and symbol of perseverance. It is a piece which speaks of life and its hardships, but more importantly, of our capacity to bounce back from life’s struggles with courage and resilience. Hemingway aptly expressed the meaning through the dialogue of Santiago’s statement at the end of the novella: “I went out too far” and he simply replied, “But I went out this far.”
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a powerful, yet frequently overlooked novella, and it is certainly worth a read. It is a classic story that has captivated readers around the world and continues to provide timeless messages of self-determination, courage and resilience. In addition to its rich narrative, The Old Man and The Sea serves as an illustration of Hemmingway’s remarkable writing style and timeless insight.
