essay topics old man and the sea

78 The Old Man and the Sea Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the old man and the sea topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting the old man and the sea topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about the old man and the sea, ❓ old man and the sea essay questions.

• Hemingway’s Code Hero in The Old Man and the Sea. Traits & Definition To solve the misconception, Hemingway sets in with his The Old Man and the Sea, featuring Santiago, an aged angler and an epitome of code heroes.
• Human Victory in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Hemingway “[…] he wrote about pity: about something somewhere that made them all: the old man who had to catch the fish and then lose it, the fish that had to be caught and then lost, […]
• The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway In The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway reveals his conception of heroism not as a measure of the glory and recognition his character receives, but instead in the determination of the struggle.
• The Old Man and the Sea It can also be stated that the novel itself has distinct religious overtones as evidenced by Santiago’s reference to the crucifixion in the scene where the sharks came to eat the body of the marlin.
• “The Old Man and the Sea”: Unlucky but Undefeated The main character of Hemingway’s book The Old Man and the Sea is a person with great experience in life and in his work but he does not seem to be lucky; this is where […]
• Friendship in The Old Man and The Sea The book was the last published during the author’s lifetime, and some critics believe that it was his reflection on the topics of death and the meaning of life.
• Don Quixote Comparison to Movie “The Old Man and the Sea” Both stories, The Old Man and the Sea and Don Quixote have a number of common features as they are based on all those characteristics inherent to men who are challenged the world they live […]
• The Need of Being Versed in Country Things and “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Representation of Individuality in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Portrayal of Love and Friendship in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Internal and External Conflict of Santiago in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Losing Faith in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Use of the Iceberg Principle in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• An Evaluation of the Hero in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Struggles of Man and Nature in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Symbolic Use of Christianity in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Effective Use of Imagery in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Analysis of the Narrative Point of View in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Story of Santiago in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Journey in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Solitude and Its Language Manifestation in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• “The Old Man and the Sea”: The Old Fisherman as a Hemingway Code Hero
• Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” Characters Transposed in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• An Interpretation of Key Symbols in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Theme of Isolation in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Symbiotic Relationship Between Lennie and George in “Of Mice and Men” and Santiago and Manolin in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Inner Happiness in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Narrative Techniques and Style of the Language in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Resilience of the Human Spirit in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Historical Context of “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Santiago’s Battle Against Nature and the Sea in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Hero in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Structural Techniques and Language Style in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Route in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Similarities and Differences of the Old Man, the Boy, and the Sea in in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• the Theme of Pride in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Santiago as a Man Defeated in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Religious Symbolism in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Luck in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• Final Impression of Triumph and Despair in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Moving Past Triumphs and Tragedies in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Concept of Man in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Theme of Heroism in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Character Santiago in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Comparison of Tom in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and Santiago in “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Different Perspectives on “The Old Man and the Sea”
• The Dangerous Yet Rewarding Road to Success as a Fisherman in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
• How Does “The Old Man and the Sea” Prompt the Audience to View the Human Condition?
• How Is Luck Important to Santiago and Manolin in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Does Hemingway Convey About Success in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Why Did Santiago Loose the Prize He Was After in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Are the Nightly Precautions Santiago Takes With His Fishing Equipment Both Realistic and Optimistic in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Is Santiago a Prideful Man in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Does Santiago Embody Hemingway’s Ideals for Manhood in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Is the Main Conflict in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Is Santiago Successful as a Fisherman in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Why Won’t Santiago Borrow Money in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Does Hemingway Imply That Santiago Is a Christ-Like Figure in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Is Santiago’s View of His Sinfulness in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Is the Figure of Joe Dimaggio Used to Emphasize Santiago’s Respect for Nature in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Is the Old Man Right to Kill the Marlin in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Significance Do the Lions on the Beach Have for the Old Man in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Is Santiago Characterized Early in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Is the Relationship Between Santiago and Manolin in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Is Santiago Separated From or Different From the Other Fishermen in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Do Santiago and Manolin Pretend in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Is Santiago’s House Described in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Are Santiago’s Feelings for Creatures of the Sea Including the Birds in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Why Does Santiago Call the Sea “La Mar” in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Why Doesn’t Santiago Worry About Talking to Himself in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• Is the Ending of “The Old Man and the Sea” Hopeful or Discouraging?
• In What Ways Are the Fish and Santiago Alike in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Do the Sharks in “The Old Man and the Sea” Symbolize?
• Why Does Santiago Say the Fish Is More Noble Than He in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Does Santiago Feel About the Marlin in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• How Does Hemingway Stress the Endurance of Santiago in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
• What Does Santiago Conclude Even When Things Are Hopeless in “The Old Man and the Sea”?
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119 The Old Man and the Sea Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a classic novel that has been studied and analyzed by students and scholars alike. With its rich symbolism and themes of struggle, perseverance, and the human condition, there are countless essay topics that can be explored in relation to this novel. Here are 19 essay topic ideas and examples to help inspire your own writing:

• The symbolism of the sea in The Old Man and the Sea.
• Santiago's relationship with nature and the sea.
• The role of luck and fate in Santiago's journey.
• The theme of perseverance in the face of adversity.
• Santiago's isolation and loneliness in the novel.
• The importance of Santiago's dream of the lions.
• Hemingway's portrayal of masculinity in the novel.
• The significance of the marlin in Santiago's journey.
• The symbolism of the sharks in the novel.
• The theme of aging and mortality in The Old Man and the Sea.
• Santiago's relationship with the boy, Manolin.
• The role of religion and spirituality in the novel.
• The parallels between Santiago's struggle and Christ's crucifixion.
• The symbolism of the colors blue and yellow in the novel.
• The theme of dignity and pride in Santiago's character.
• Hemingway's use of minimalism and understatement in the novel.
• The symbolic significance of the different types of fish in the novel.
• The theme of heroism in The Old Man and the Sea.
• Santiago's struggle against the elements and his own physical limitations.

These are just a few examples of the many essay topics that can be explored in relation to The Old Man and the Sea. Whether you choose to focus on a specific theme, character, or symbol, there is plenty of material in this novel to inspire thoughtful analysis and discussion. Hemingway's timeless tale of one man's epic struggle against the forces of nature is a rich and complex work that continues to captivate readers and spark conversations about the human experience. So dive in, explore these essay topics, and see where your own insights and interpretations lead you.

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The Old Man and the Sea

By ernest hemingway, the old man and the sea essay questions.

Describe Hemingway's portrayal of Santiago's relationship with the sea.

Hemingway focuses on the connections between Santiago and his natural environment: the fish, birds, and stars are all his brothers or friends; he has the heart of a turtle, eats turtle eggs for strength; anddrinks shark liver oil for health. This connection with the sea and its creatures helps Santiago in the midst of his great tragedy. For Santiago, success and failure are two equal facets of the same existence. They are transitory forms which capriciously arrive and depart without affecting the underlying unity between himself and nature. As long as he focuses on this unity and sees himself as part of nature rather than as an external antagonist competing with it, he cannot be defeated by whatever misfortunes befall him.

Is Santiago a prideful man? Why or why not?

Hemingway's treatment of pride in The Old Man and the Sea is ambivalent. A heroic man like Santiago should have pride in his actions, and as Santiago shows us, "humility was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride" (14). At the same time, though, it is apparently Santiago's pride which presses him to travel dangerously far out into the sea, "beyond all people in the world," to catch the marlin (50). While he loved the marlin and called him brother, Santiago admits to killing it for pride, his blood stirred by battle with such a noble and worthy antagonist. Some have interpreted the loss of the marlin as the price Santiago had to pay for his pride in traveling out so far in search of such a catch. Contrarily, one could argue that this pride was beneficial as it allowed Santiago an edifying challenge worthy of his heroism. In the end, Hemingway suggests that pride in a job well done, even if pride drew one unnecessarily into the situation, is a positive trait.

How does Santiago embody Hemingway's ideals for manhood?

Hemingway's ideal of manhood is nearly inseparable from the ideal of heroism. To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity: to not succumb to suffering, to accept one's duty without complaint and, most importantly, to display a maximum of self-control. The representation of femininity, the sea, is characterized expressly by its caprice and lack of self-control; "if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them" (30). The representation of masculinity, the marlin, is described as 'great,' 'beautiful,' 'calm,' and 'noble,' and Santiago steels him against his pain by telling himself, "suffer like a man. Or a fish," referring to the marlin (92). In Hemingway's ethical universe, Santiago shows us not only how to live life heroically but in a way befitting a man.

In your opinion, is Santiago successful as a fisherman? Why or why not?

Hemingway draws a distinction between two different types of success: outer, material success and inner, spiritual success. While Santiago clearly lacks the former, the import of this lack is eclipsed by his possession of the later. One way to describe Santiago's story is as a triumph of indefatigable spirit over exhaustible material resources. As noted above, the characteristics of such a spirit are those of heroism and manhood. That Santiago can end the novella undefeated after steadily losing his hard-earned, most valuable possession is a testament to the privileging of inner success over outer success.

Discuss Santiago's obsession with being a worthy adversary for the marlin.

Being heroic and manly are not merely qualities of character which one possesses or does not. One must constantly demonstrate one's heroism and manliness through actions conducted with dignity. Interestingly, worthiness cannot be conferred upon oneself. Santiago is obsessed with proving his worthiness to those around him. He had to prove himself to the boy: "the thousand times he had proved it mean nothing. Now he was proving it again. Each time was a new time and he never thought about the past when he was doing it" (66). And he had to prove himself to the marlin: "I'll kill him....in all his greatness and glory. Although it is unjust. But I will show him what a man can do and what a man endures" (66). A heroic and manly life is not, then, one of inner peace and self-sufficiency; it requires constant demonstration of one's worthiness through noble action.

How does Hemingway imply that Santiago is a Christ-like figure?

Manolin has an almost religious devotion to Santiago, underscored when Manolin begs Santiago's pardon for his not fishing with the old man anymore. Manolin says, "It was Papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him," to which Santiago replies, "I know... It is quite normal. He hasn't much faith" (10). Manolin's father forced his son to switch to a more successful boat after 40 days had passed without a catch for Santiago; this is the amount of time Jesus wandered in the desert, tempted by Satan. Just as Christ resisted the temptation of the devil, Santiago resists the temptation of giving in to his exhaustion as he battles the marlin. "It was a great temptation to rest in the bow and let the fish make one circle by himself without recovering any line." But he is committed to beating the fish, to proving his strength is more steadfast, thinking, "He'll be up soon and I can last. You have to last. Don't even speak of it."

What is Santiago's view of his own sinfulness?

Throughout this final section, Santiago repeatedly apologizes to the marlin in a way that provides another way to read Santiago's sin. He says, "Half fish... Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went out so far. I ruined us both" (115). Santiago's transgression is no longer his killing of the fish, but going out too far in the ocean, "beyond all people in the world" (50). While the former sin helped account for the inescapable misery of the human condition, the latter focuses instead on avoidable misery brought about by intentional action. Santiago chose to go out so far; he did not need to do so, but in doing so he must surrender his prize, the marlin, to the jealous sea.

This understanding of Santiago's sin is strange because it seems to separate man from nature in a way which contradicts the rest of the novella. Going out too far is an affront against nature similar to the hubristic folly of Greek tragedy; he has courted disaster through his own pride. Nowhere previously in the novel was this apparent, though. The sea seemed to welcome him, providing him company and food for his expedition. There was no resistance from nature to his activities, except perhaps the sharks, but these were never made to be nature's avengers. This reading of Santiago's sin thus seems very problematic.

Describe the important aspects of Santiago's relationship with Manolin.

The relationship between Santiago and Manolin can be summed up in one sentence: "The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him" (10). Manolin is Santiago's apprentice, but their relationship is not restricted to business alone. Manolin idolizes Santiago but the object of this idolization is not only the once great though presently failed fisherman; it is an idolization of ideals. This helps explain Manolin's unique, almost religious, devotion to the old man, underscored when Manolin begs Santiago's pardon for his not fishing with the old man anymore. Manolin says, "It was Papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him," to which Santiago replies, "I know... It is quite normal. He hasn't much faith" (10).

Despite the clear hierarchy of this teacher/student relationship, Santiago does stress his equality with the boy. When Manolin asks to buy the old man a beer, Santiago replies, "Why not?... Between fisherman" (11). And when Manolin asks to help Santiago with his fishing, Santiago replies, "You are already a man" (12). By demonstrating that Santiago has little more to teach the boy, this equality foreshadows the impending separation of the two friends, and also indicates that this will not be a story about a young boy learning from an old man, but a story of an old man learning the unique lessons of the autumn of life.

Discuss the importance of the sense of sight to the characters in the novella.

Hemingway peppers the novella with numerous references to sight. We are told, for instance, that Santiago has uncannily good eyesight for a man of his age and experience, while Manolin's new employer is nearly blind. When Manolin notices this, Santiago replies simply, "I am a strange old man" (14). Given the analogy between Santiago's eyes and the sea, one suspects that his strangeness in this regard has something to do with his relationship to the sea. This connection, though, is somewhat problematic as it might suggest that Santiago would have success as a fisherman.

Santiago's statement that his eyes adjust to the sun during different parts of the day furnishes another example of the importance of sight and visual imagery in the novella. Santiago says, "All my life the early sun has hurt my eyes, he thought. Yet they are still good. In the evening I can look straight into it without getting the blackness. It has more force in the evening too. But in the morning it is just painful" (33). Given the likening of natural time cycles to human age, e.g. September as the autumn of life, it is plausible to read this passage as a statement of the edifying power of age. While it is difficult to find one's way in the morning of youth, this task becomes easier when done by those who have lived through the day into the evening of life.

How is the figure of Joe DiMaggio used to emphasize Santiago's respect for nature?

As he struggles against the marlin despite the pain he suffers, Santiago recalls the figure of Joe DiMaggio, identified at the beginning of the novella as a heroic paragon. "I must have confidence," thought Santiago, "and I must be worthy of the great DiMaggio who does all things perfectly even with the pain of the bone spur in his heel" (68). It is strange, though, that immediately after valorizing DiMaggio, Santiago immediately diminishes the baseball player's greatness by thinking that the pain of a bone spur could not be as bad as the pain of the spur of a fighting cock. He even concludes that "man is not much beside the great birds and beasts. Still I would rather be that beast down there in the darkness of the sea" (68). Nature, and the marlin especially, is privileged above even the greatest exemplars of human endurance.

The Old Man and the Sea Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Old Man and the Sea is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

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The Old Man and the Sea, Part 2

Worthiness is an important themes in the second part of the story, Being heroic and manly are not merely qualities of character which one possesses or does not. One must constantly demonstrate one's heroism and manliness through actions conducted...

Describe santiago

Santiago is the protagonist of the novella. He is an old fisherman in Cuba who, at the beginning of the book, has not caught anything for eighty-four days. The novella follows Santiago's quest for the great catch that will save his career....

Study Guide for The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea study guide contains a biography of Ernest Hemingway, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Old Man and the Sea
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Essays for The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

• Hemingway’s Fight with Old Age
• A Different Outlook on Christian Symbolism in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea
• Santiago: Transcending Heroism
• Chasing Fish: Comparing The Ultimate Goals Found in "The Old Man and The Sea" And "Dances with Wolves"
• Hemingway the Absurdist

Lesson Plan for The Old Man and the Sea

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Santiago as a Heroic Figure in The Old Man and The Sea

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The Novel The Old Man and The Sea

Analysis of santiago's heroism in the old man and the sea, christian symbolism in the old man and the sea, a man can be destroyed but not defeated.

Ernest Hemingway

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The Old Man and the Sea , short heroic novel by Ernest Hemingway , published in 1952 and awarded the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was his last major work of fiction. The story centres on an aging fisherman who engages in an epic battle to catch a giant marlin .

The central character is an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago, who has not caught a fish for 84 days. The family of his apprentice, Manolin, has forced the boy to leave the old fisherman, though Manolin continues to support him with food and bait. Santiago is a mentor to the boy, who cherishes the old man and the life lessons he imparts. Convinced that his luck must change, Santiago takes his skiff far out into the deep waters of the Gulf Stream , where he soon hooks a giant marlin . With all his great experience and strength, he struggles with the fish for three days, admiring its strength, dignity, and faithfulness to its identity; its destiny is as true as Santiago’s as a fisherman. He finally reels the marlin in and lashes it to his boat.

However, Santiago’s exhausting effort goes for naught. Sharks are drawn to the tethered marlin, and, although Santiago manages to kill a few, the sharks eat the fish, leaving behind only its skeleton. After returning to the harbour, the discouraged Santiago goes to his home to sleep. In the meantime, others see the skeleton tied to his boat and are amazed. A concerned Manolin is relieved to find Santiago alive, and the two agree to go fishing together.

The Old Man and the Sea contains many of the themes that preoccupied Hemingway as a writer and as a man. The routines of life in a Cuban fishing village are evoked in the opening pages with a characteristic economy of language. The stripped-down existence of the fisherman Santiago is crafted in a spare, elemental style that is as eloquently dismissive as a shrug of the old man’s powerful shoulders. With age and luck now against him, Santiago knows he must row out “beyond all people,” away from land and into the Gulf Stream , where one last drama would be played out, in an empty arena of sea and sky.

Hemingway was famously fascinated with ideas of men proving their worth by facing and overcoming the challenges of nature. When the old man hooks a marlin longer than his boat, he is tested to the limits as he works the line with bleeding hands in an effort to bring it close enough to harpoon . Through his struggle, Santiago demonstrates the ability of the human spirit to endure hardship and suffering in order to win. It is also his deep love and knowledge of the sea, in its impassive cruelty and beneficence, that allows him to prevail. The essential physicality of the story—the smells of tar and salt and fish blood, the cramp and nausea and blind exhaustion of the old man, the terrifying death spasms of the great fish—is set against the ethereal qualities of dazzling light and water, isolation, and the swelling motion of the sea. And through it all, the narrative is constantly tugging, unreeling a little more, and then pulling again, all in tandem with the old man’s struggle. It is a story that demands to be read in a single sitting.

The Old Man and the Sea was an immediate success and came to be regarded as one of Hemingway’s finest works. It was cited when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. A hugely popular film adaptation starring Spencer Tracy was released in 1958.

The Old Man and the Sea

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Summary and Study Guide

In The Old Man and the Sea, a 1952 adventure novella by American author Ernest Hemingway, an aging fisherman pits his life and wits against a giant fish as he battles to catch it and then protect its flesh from ravenous sharks. With its themes of endurance, perseverance, and respect for one’s opponent, this simple, straightforward narrative is widely regarded as an American classic and one of the greatest sea stories ever told.

The book helped cement Hemingway’s fame and legacy to a worldwide audience; it won a Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and helped him win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. The story has three times been made into motion pictures and is a staple of student reading lists.

Scribner’s 2020 hardcover edition contains the original illustrations and several analytical essays; it forms the basis for this study guide. An unpaginated ebook version of the print edition also is available.

Plot Summary

Santiago, an old fisherman, rows his skiff out each day from a harbor in Cuba into the surrounding deep waters in search of large fish. He is assisted by a boy, Manolin, whom he has taught to catch marlin and shark. For weeks he has hooked nothing, and the locals decide he is unlucky; after day 40 of catching no fish, Manolin’s father reassigns the boy to another boat. Every evening, though, the boy visits Santiago, helps him stow the boat’s equipment, and shares with him a meal and conversation.

On day 85 of his unsuccessful streak, Santiago rows especially far out, where he hopes big fish lurk. Late in the morning, a very large marlin takes the bait and swims away, dragging the boat northward many miles from shore. Rather than tie the line directly to the boat, Santiago hangs onto it for hours with his hands, greatly straining his shoulders and back. As night falls, the fish keeps pulling them north. The chase continues all night and past dawn. On the second day, the fish jumps clear out of the water. Longer than Santiago ’ s skiff, it is a magnificent creature larger than any he has seen or heard of.

The fishing line cuts Santiago’s hands when it slides past them. He manages to catch a couple of smaller fish to eat; that night, he also grabs some sleep, his body braced painfully against the line.

As the hunt continues, Santiago’s respect and admiration for the fish grow, and he begins to wonder if so worthy an opponent should simply be killed and eaten. He decides that it is his task to do so, but that he will nevertheless respect the great creature.

On the third day, the fish begins to circle back underneath the boat. Each time it passes, Santiago pulls in more of the line. Finally, the fish cannot swim anymore; Santiago reels it close and kills it with a harpoon through the heart. He lashes the fish to his skiff, raises his sail, and heads for home with a catch that will pay him handsomely and get him through the winter.

Sharks, smelling blood, swim from miles away to feast on the marlin. Santiago defends his catch by stabbing and clubbing the attackers, but they are persistent, and as the hours pass they consume more and more of the great fish. Exhausted, and having lost most of the catch, the old man finally rests while the sharks clean off the last of the meat.

In the hours before dawn, the old man arrives back at his home port, where he pulls the boat and its skeleton cargo onto the beach. He collects the sail and trudges back to his shack, falling once and resting several times. At home, he collapses into bed and sleeps deeply, dreaming of his youth. Late in the morning, Manolin brings him coffee, and they talk about fishing together again. On the beach, villagers measure the marlin’s skeleton: It is 18 feet long, the longest anyone has ever seen.

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The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest hemingway.

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Resistance to Defeat

As a fisherman who has caught nothing for the last 84 days, Santiago is a man fighting against defeat. Yet Santiago never gives in to defeat: he sails further into the ocean than he ever has before in hopes of landing a fish, struggles with the marlin for three days and nights despite immense physical pain and exhaustion, and, after catching the marlin, fights off the sharks even when it's clear that the battle against…

Pride is often depicted as negative attribute that causes people to reach for too much and, as a result, suffer a terrible fall. After he kills the first shark , Santiago , who knows he killed the marlin "for pride," wonders if the sin of pride was responsible for the shark attack because pride caused him to go out into the ocean beyond the usual boundaries that fishermen observe. Santiago immediately dismisses the idea, however…

The friendship between Santiago and Manolin plays a critical part in Santiago's victory over the marlin . In return for Santiago's mentorship and company, Manolin provides physical support to Santiago in the village, bringing him food and clothing and helping him load his skiff. He also provides emotional support, encouraging Santiago throughout his unlucky streak. Although Santiago's "hope and confidence had never gone," when Manolin was present, "they were freshening as when the breeze rises."…

Youth and Age

The title of the novella, The Old Man and the Sea , suggests the critical thematic role that age plays in the story. The book's two principal characters, Santiago and Manolin , represent the old and the young, and a beautiful harmony develops between them. What one lacks, the other provides. Manolin, for example, has energy and enthusiasm. He finds food and clothing for Santiago, and encourages him despite his bad luck. Santiago, in turn…

Man and Nature

Since The Old Man and the Sea is the story of a man's struggle against a marlin , it is tempting to see the novella as depicting man's struggle against nature. In fact, through Santiago , the novella explores man's relationship with nature. He thinks of the flying fish as his friends, and speaks with a warbler to pass the time. The sea is dangerous, with its sharks and potentially treacherous weather, but it also…

Christian Allegory

The Old Man and the Sea is full of Christian imagery. Over the course of his struggles at sea, Santiago emerges as a Christ figure. For instance: Santiago's injured hands recall Christ's stigmata (the wounds in his palms); when the sharks attack, Santiago makes a sound like a man being crucified; when Santiago returns to shore he carries his mast up to his shack on his shoulder, just as Christ was forced to bear his…

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Tragedy as British scuba diver pulled dead from sea in Spanish tourist hotspot

30 August 2024, 10:47

By Danielle de Wolfe

A British scuba diver has died after getting into trouble off the coast of a tourist hotspot in Lanzarote.

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The 59-year-old diver encountered difficulties at Playa Chica, a small sandy cove in the resort of Puerto del Carmen known for snorkelling.

Emergency services attempted to revive him after the alarm was raised at around midday and he was pulled from the water.

He was unconscious and found to be in cardiac arrest.

Despite their best efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man has not yet been identified.

A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response centre said: "A 59-year-old scuba diver has died following an incident at Playa Chica in the municipality of Tias.

"We started receiving calls just after 12.30pm yesterday.

"The callers said a scuba diver who was unconscious and needed emergency medical assistance had been pulled from the water.

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"Emergency responders discovered he was in cardiac arrest when they arrived at the scene and practiced CPR on him without obtaining positive results.

"He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The Civil Guard is preparing a report on the incident.

"Local police and firefighters were also mobilised."

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Deputy accused of fatally shooting US airman gets bond

A circuit court judge granted a former Florida deputy $100,000 bond for pre-trial release on Thursday in connection with the shooting death of U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman Roger Fortson who was killed in his own home in May.

Eddie Duran, 38, was denied pretrial release in his first court appearance on Tuesday at the Okaloosa County Circuit Court. In Thursday's hearing, Duran, who appeared before a judge in person, avoided the $250,000 bond amount asked by the state but was denied the $10,000 requested by his attorneys.

The Okaloosa County Circuit Court ruled that Duran cannot possess any firearms, come into contact with Fortson's family or leave the First Judicial Circuit area of Florida, outside of special circumstances that may be allowed by the court if they come up, according to the judge.

Duran was arrested on Monday after the Florida state attorney filed one count of manslaughter with a firearm against him last Friday. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Fortson , 23, was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 3 when Duran responded to the apartment for a call reporting a domestic disturbance, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Fortson was alone in the apartment at the time, police said.

In body-worn camera footage released by the sheriff's office, Fortson is seen holding a gun in his right hand with his arm extended downward and the muzzle pointing at the floor as he opens the door in response to the deputy, who can be heard announcing twice that he's with the sheriff's office.

The footage, reviewed by ABC News, also shows Fortson had his left hand up, palm showing, gesturing towards the deputy when he opened the door. Duran shot Fortson within seconds of the door opening, according to the footage. Fortson died of his injuries.

The deputy said he saw Fortson armed with a gun and claimed that Fortson took a step toward the deputy and had a look of aggression in his eyes, according to an interview Duran conducted with the sheriff's office during their subsequent investigation.

"Former Okaloosa Deputy Eddie Duran, his family, and our entire defense team extends condolences to the family and friends of Airman Roger Fortson as they mourn his tragic death," Rod Smith, Duran's attorney, said in a statement to ABC News after the hearing Thursday.

"There will be no doubt that on May 3, 2024, Airman Fortson knew of, and was plainly angered by, the presence of law enforcement at the front door of his apartment. It was Airman Fortson who, after being made aware that a law enforcement officer was at his door, chose to arm himself with a semi-automatic pistol before responding to the deputy."

Duran was terminated in May, according to a May 31 sheriff's department statement obtained by ABC News.

"We believe very strongly that he's entitled to a good defense, and we look forward to our day in court," Smith, who joined the case as part of the defense team for the nonprofit Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association, told ABC News in a phone call prior to the hearing on Thursday. "We strongly dispute the decision by the office of the state attorney to file on this case. Our view of the evidence does not support that he committed a crime defending himself, standing his ground while trying to enforce the law."

Fortson's girlfriend, who asked not to be identified due to fears for her safety, spoke in May to Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB-TV, telling the station her and Fortson were having a conversation on the phone when the shooting occurred.

"We continue to wish Mr. Fortson's family comfort and peace, as the former deputy's criminal case proceeds," the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office previously told ABC News in a statement. "We stand by our decision to terminate Mr. Duran as a result of the administrative internal affairs investigation that found his use of force was not objectively reasonable."

A sweep of the home did not find another person in the apartment besides Fortson, police said. In the body camera video, a woman, presumed to be a building manager, explains to the officer that someone in the building notified her of the disturbance and that she called police.

Fortson's family said in a statement to ABC News last Friday that the charges marked a "first step towards justice" in the case.

"Nothing can ever bring Roger back, and our fight is far from over, but we are hopeful that this arrest and these charges will result in real justice for the Fortson family," the statement said. "Let this be a reminder to law enforcement officers everywhere that they swore a solemn oath to protect and defend, and their actions have consequences, especially when it results in the loss of life."

Duran will post bond later Thursday, according to Smith.

ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report

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