Religious Symbolism, and Perseverance in The Old Man and The Sea - Research Paper Example

?Religious symbolism, perseverance/faith shown thru plot/action and grace under pressure in "The Old Man and The Sea" The theme of survival is popular among the world renowned fiction writers because human life is the unending fight to survive in hard conditions. Within the scenario of fiction genre, most of the works by Ernest Hemingway are autobiographical because he believed in adventure and survival. The novel The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway is interconnected with the author’s interest in fishing and is an attempt to unearth the hardships faced by the fishermen in America. Thesis statement: Within the scenario of English literature, the novel The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway is beyond the scope of fiction genre because the author provides equal importance to different aspects like symbolism, perseverance, the scope of faith within plot/action, and the subject of grace under pressure. Different aspects of the novel This section is further divided into four, namely: symbolism, perseverance, faith within plot/action, and the subject of grace under pressure. Symbolism: The characters in the novel, like the old man, the boy, the lions, the sharks, the marlin, etc are symbolic of self-reliance, attachment, strength, hardship, and challenge in human life as a whole. F. W. Dupee opines that, “One of his best stories, The Old Man and the Sea is a first-rate example of that literature of the big hunt to which so many American writers have contributed, affirming through this image the frontier virtues and the natural basis of our life” (150). The old man is symbolic of self-reliance that can help human beings to be victorious without external help. In the novel, Santiago is aware of the fact that no other fisherman will help him to catch the giant Marlin. Besides, he believes in his inner strength and dignity as an experienced fisherman. He does not provide any importance to criticism because he believed that he will be victorious in the end. So, one can see that the old man in the novel is symbolic of self-reliance. On the other side, the boy (Manolin) is so attached to Santiago because he believed that Santiago cannot be defeated. Manolin’s parents did not allow him to work with the old man. But he regularly visited the old man and encouraged him by pointing out his success in his youthful days. So, one can see that the boy is symbolic of attachment between human beings. In the novel, the lions are symbolic of the old man’s strength to endure hardships in life. Besides, the old man used to dream about lions. This proves that he used to compare his strength with the lions. In the novel, the sharks represent the hardships faced by the old man while fishing. He was aware of the fact that the sharks will attack the fish. Still, he bravely accepts the challenge from the sharks and considered them as inevitable hardships in his life. On the other side, the marlin is symbolic of challenges in human life. The old man considered that catching a marlin is the most important challenge to be faced in his life. In the end, he was able to catch the giant fish and this proves his attitude towards challenges in life. Perseverance: In the novel, Hemingway provides ample importance to the old man’s perseverance. The old man never tries to give up his determination to catch the fish. He very well knows that failure is entirely different from idleness because failure in a noble endeavor proves one’s worthiness. In Ernest Hemingway’s work The Old Man and the sea, the speaker states that, “Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same colour as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated” (5). During his attempt to catch fish, he failed to be successful. But he was aware of the fact that the giant marlin is waiting for him in the sea. He does not provide importance to criticism. His single minded dedication to his profession helps him to hook the giant fish. But in the end, his effort proved to be futile because the sharks attacked the fish and ate the flesh. Still, he tires his level best to distract the sharks from stealing his fish. He very well knew that he cannot save the fish from the attack of the sharks. Still, he decides to fight with the sharks. This attitude of determination or dedication towards one’s profession is an inherent quality in the old man’s character. At the same time, the old man does not abandon the fish’s skeleton. Instead, he carries the skeleton to the shore to prove that the sharks cannot defeat him. So, one can see that the fish’s skeleton is symbolic of the old man’s dedication and willpower. Besides, his conversation with the boy and with the living things in the sea proves his determination to be a successful fisherman. Faith within plot/action: In the novel, the novelist inculcates faith within the plot/action by exposing the characteristics of the main characters, i.e. Santiago and Manolin. Clinton S. Burhans makes clear that, “Young regards the novel as essentially classical in nature; Gurko sees it as reflecting Hemingway’s romanticism; and to Baker, the novel is Christian in context, and the old fisherman is suggestive of Christ” (1). To be specific, the faith portrayed in the novel is interconnected with Christian faith. For instance, the character of Santiago is similar to Jesus Christ, who underwent a number of hardships, but was able to overcome the same in the end. On the other side, Manolin is portrayed as a devotee, who is deeply influenced by Santiago’s will power. Geoffrey Hodson states that, “Admittedly, strong faith, even when founded on a misinterpretation of the effects of ceremonial can produce potent results” (122). In the novel, Manolin feels sorry for Santiago because his parents did not allow him to work with him. Besides, he believed that Santiago can prove himself as a successful fisherman. This belief is similar to the faith of Jesus Christ’s followers in his holiness. From a different angle of view, Santiago considered the living things in the sea as divine. He did not try to disturb the serenity of the sea. Instead, he considered himself as a simple fisherman whose duty is to catch fish and to feed other human beings. In short, religious faith is an important factor within the plot/action of the novel. The subject of grace under pressure: One can see that the subject of grace under pressure is interconnected with one’s self-control or the ability to be unwavering in difficult situations/conditions in life. Bickford Sylvester states that, “I want to suggest, on the contrary, that The Old Man and the Sea reveals Hemingway’s successful achievement at last of a coherent metaphysical scheme-of a philosophical naturalism which, although largely mechanistic in principle, embraces the realm of human affairs and give transcendent meaning to the harsh inevitabilities Hemingway has always insisted upon recording” (130). In the novel, the protagonist is symbolic of self-control. To be specific, the hardships in his life, including alienation from other fisherman, do not force Santiago to lose his self- control. He is aware of the fact that his past life as an adventurer who was interested in arm wrestling, hunting etc is helpful for him to overcome the troubles. Besides, he considers that his alienation or loneliness is helpful to gain self-control. For instance, his inability to catch fishes does not affect his emotional equilibrium. But he gains control over his senses, and continues his effort to catch the biggest fish. When the sharks attacked the fish, Santiago does not lose his self-control. Instead, he decided to accept the challenge from the sharks. Moreover, he courageously fights with the sharks. So, Santiago’s attitude towards life proves that he is able to gain self-control over his life. In addition, he considers that his life is interconnected with the whole world. This realization of self as the part of nature or the creator is the grass root level reason behind Santiago’s self- control. In the novel, Santiago never tries to intrude into the lives of other characters. Instead, he tries to co-operate with others. When he feels alienations in his public domain, he tries to gain confidence from his past. Besides, his past helps him to have deeper understanding of human life. In short, the novelist provides ample importance to the self-control and self-confidence of the protagonist and successfully inculcates the same within the novel’s plot/action. Summing, the novel is symbolic of the different aspects of human life and the human endeavor to overcome troubles in daily life. Besides, the writer does not try to portray the protagonist as a fictitious character. Instead, the genuine characteristics of the protagonist are revealed through his direct involvement in realistic situations. One can easily identify the fact that the protagonist in the novel is the embodiment of perseverance because he is not ready to give up his effort. In addition, the novelist cunningly inculcates the scope of religious faith within the plot/action of the novel because the same provides heroic quality to the protagonist and his admirer. At the same time, the protagonist represents the theme of self-control because he is not ready to keep aloof from the problems faced by him in his public domain. So, the work is beyond the scope of fiction writing because the same deals with different features of human life as a whole. Works Cited Burhans, Clinton S. “The Old Man and the Sea: Hemingway's Tragic Vision of Man.” American Literature 31.4 (1960): 446-55. Print. Dupee, F. W. “Hemingway Revealed.” The Kenyon Review 15.1(1953): 150-52. Print. Hemingway, Ernest. The old man and the sea. Germany: Hueber Verlag, 1995. Print. Hodson, Geoffrey. Hidden Wisdom in the Holy Bible, Volume 2. Illinois: Quest Books, 1994. Print. Sylvester, Bickford. “Hemingway's Extended Vision: The Old Man and the Sea.” PMLA 81.1 (1966): 130-38. Print. Read More