By Roshawna F.

Often in works of literature the story is based upon a message or theme. In Ernest Hemingway’s novella, The Old Man and the Sea, the message the author is trying to get across to readers is how an occupation, a hobby, or things of that matter can drive you to the point of insanity and yet your life still revolves around it.

The old man forms his life around fishing. When he wakes up every morning he is a fisherman and nothing else. If Santiago was not a fisherman there would be no other profession for him. “You were born to be a fisherman as the fish was born to be a fish” (105). He has honor for fishing since he does not want to think about the sin of killing a fish. His trips could eventually kill him but he doesn’t back down. The old man isn’t afraid to die but instead he would accept his fate.

As stated in the first paragraph, fishing is the occupation that keeps Santiago alive but it kills him slowly at the same time. As would he say: “Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive” (106). The time he spends out on his fishing trips is slowly destroying and weakening him. Fishing is his only will to live. If he did not fish he would die because fishing is what provides for him. It’s what keeps him from giving up. Fishing is the only area in which he can prove himself to be better than any other younger fishermen.

When Santiago is out at sea the sharks pick up the scent of the dead marlin and swim toward the skiff. After the battle with the sharks, he believes they killed him but the pain in his hands and shoulders reassured him that he was still alive. When he returns to the harbor he tells Manolin that he feels the sharks have defeated him but, Manolin does not agree with him. “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish” (124). He helps the old man cheer up by saying that he must recover soon so that they can go out to sea again and so he can teach him everything.

Something that kills me is how I doubt things very quickly and how I think negatively about certain things. If I’m working on something I’ll have to ask people a million times if it’s good enough. Or sometimes I won’t speak up for an idea, knowing that I’m probably wrong about it when I’m actually not. I sometimes don’t take chances only because I believe it will turn out wrong. My mother says I always doubt myself about everything. My friends say the same but about different things though. I don’t believe there is anything that can cheer me up like Manolin cheers up the old man, but maybe there is and I just haven’t discovered it yet.

By Nicholina W.

In the novella The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, there are many diverse struggles mentioned throughout the book. These conflicts were meant to show not only the struggles of fishermen, but they have a deeper meaning that can relate to the struggles in general life. These conflicts can be for example, anything from a rigorous volleyball match, where you need to be physically and mentally strong, to working hard and studying in order to earn the grade you strive to receive on a test, for which you need to be mentally strong.

One of the most important lessons taught in the Novella is, the conflict of Santiago’s feelings versus reality. Santiago understands the true meaning to life, because he has had to live through the horrid tragedy of loosing his true love, his wife. "I’ll kill him though." "In all his greatness and his glory" (66). This quote is truly an example of Santiago’s feelings working against him, whether to kill the fish or not to kill the fish. But he also understands that the fish is absolutely necessary to kill, because Santiago is a professional fisherman. So he will either have money to live or he will allow the fish to continue living. You can relate this to life for example, when the veterinarians tell you your dog is sick and he his going to have a very painful death, and the best thing to do would be to put him down. But you don’t want to put him down because you love him to much to have to say goodbye, but you don’t want him to die painfully.

The determination of Santiago, is a conflict in it’s self because his body is giving up, but his mind is continuing to thrust him forward in his quest to land the big fish. "He’s good for the night and so am I" (73). This quote is an example of how Santiago is not only struggling with the fish and his fatigue, but he is struggling to understand why his mind is convincing his body to hold on to the fish. Even though he is far too tired he must continue strong, until the fish is landed aboard his ship. In life, this could be portrayed by finals in college. You live all your life hoping to graduate, and becoming a successful person in the world but by the time finals come you are tired of tests, school, papers, and assignments but you want so badly, to graduate. So you need to convince your body and mind to continue even though you dread taking the final.

In this compelling story of true mind over body there is an ongoing struggle of man versus fish, and how this struggle in general is taking a toll on Santiago, both mind and body. "You’re feeling it now, fish," he said. "And so, God knows, am I" (56). Santiago is realizing that the fish is slowing and weakening but he is also weakening. But he knows he can’t give up because, that would defeat the purpose of him even rowing his boat into the ocean. So he has to think of the ways this fish will in the end help him to prosper. So Santiago is becoming weaker body wise but also needs to be gaining strength mentally to out wit the fish. This is a skill that is needed in anything physically challenging such as playing volleyball. You have to be not only physically strong to spike the ball over the net, but you need to be mentally strong, for example, when your opposing team is up points. Because, when they gain points, you loose confidence, but it is necessary to gain mental power in order to overpower the other team physically.

This is moral found in the story, by which everyone should live their life. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated" (103). This quote is saying that your mind can overpower body if you truly convince yourself you can do anything. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King died fighting and believing all people should be equal. When he was murdered he still believed that, all people should be equal, and people continued fighting for equality, so therefore his belief was not defeated but he himself was destroyed. So therefore Santiago’s will power versus his elderly body and Santiago versus fish are two very important lessons that can be found in our daily life and in the novella The Old Man and The Sea.

By Rachel V.

In the novella The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Santiago went through several struggles and obstacles over the course of the story. Santiago struggles with the potent marlin, strenuous sharks, and with the most important, himself. The results of these struggles are fatigue and smarting, because Santiago is an old, but wise man.

One thing that Santiago struggles with is catching the fish. “‘Fish” he said, “I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends”.(54) I picked this quote to show this situation because it showed how much Santiago needs to kill the fish, but it also shows how much he loves and respects the fish. This is a struggle because Santiago consider the fish to be his brother and I think he feels a little bit guilty in the end. I think this because he killed the fish and then it got eaten by the sharks. I also think this situation represents karma and what you do always comes back to you in the end.

A second thing Santiago struggles with the strenuous sharks and how they persistently come to attack the fish. They came at least four times and every time they took a little bit of the fish with them. They didn’t stop attacking until the fish was gone. “The shark was not accident. He had come up from deep down in the water as the dark cloud of blood had settled and dispersed in the mile deep sea”. (100).This quote represents the sharks very well because it shows how they are very deceiving. They attack without knowing and take the most precious thing to you away in a second. Santiago cared so much for the fish and he struggled with the fact that the fish was now taken away from him, and how he now regretted killing it.

A thing that Santiago struggled was with himself. Two quotes that show this are, “Certainly his back cannot feel as badly as mine does.” (52). “He rubbed the cramped hand against his trousers and tried to gentle his fingers”. (60).The struggles against him is that Santiago is facing old age and how he gets tired fast and easily. Also that he doesn’t have that much strength anymore, and when he does it doesn’t last for that long. He put in every ounce of strength and dedication into catching this fish and his reward didn’t last long. The exact struggles he went through to catch the fish was his back hurting, his knee hurting, his hand cramping up, and his hand bleeding from putting so much effort in to catching the fish.

This was a very hard task for Santiago . He put everything he had into catching the fish and it was very sad when the sharks instantly took it away from him. Santiago deserved to catch that fish and be able to bring it home, but in the end karma caught up to him and what goes around comes around. Since he killed the fish, the fish got taken away from him.

By Victoria R.

Everyday people face obstacles and other forces. People are affected in many different ways. Some people are affected mentally, and some physically. In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, the character Santiago has to fight many mental and physical obstacles and forces.

Santiago went without catching a fish for eighty – four days. When he went out to sea on the eighty – fifth day, he went alone. The old man usually brought a young boy named Manolin along with him. Manolin wasn’t allowed to go fishing with Santiago because they had no luck catching fish and they weren’t making any money. After being out at sea for about a day, Santiago began to talk to himself and the things around him. He was struggling with being lonely. “Clear up, head,’ he said in a voice he could hardly hear, ‘Clear up.”(92)

Santiago also struggled against a fish. Ever since the marlin was hooked, he has caused Santiago a lot of strength and energy. The marlin was about one thousand pounds and eighteen feet long. It was just the old man against a huge marlin that was longer than his skiff and a line that could break any minute. He wasn’t expecting a fish that big. He had a very thin line and all he could do was wait until the marlin tired out and died. The marlin would circle the boat slowly and he would get closer and closer to Santiago’s skiff. “The speed of the line was cutting his hands badly but he had always known this would happen and he tried to keep the cutting across the calloused parts and not let the line slip into the palm nor cut the fingers.”(83) His hand and arm would cramp up, and he was getting very tired. Santiago was malnourished, he had very little water and food. The struggle with the fish made the old man weaker physically by the minute.

Towards the end of the book, Santiago struggled against hungry sharks. The marlin that he caught was drawing the sharks to the skiff. Santiago had to figure out how to battle the sharks and keep them from eating his catch. Santiago took his knife and put it on the end to the skiff’s oar to harpoon the sharks. He would punch the sharks with his fist when they came close enough and took the knife out of the oar to stab the sharks. When the blade of the knife snapped and sank down to the ocean floor with a shark, Santiago had to find a new way to defend himself and the fish from the oncoming sharks. He used the handle of an oar as a club and he broke of the tiller to beat the sharks. “He jerked the tiller free from the rudder and beat and chopped with it, holding it in both hands and driving it down again and again. But they were up to the bow now and driving in one after the other and together, tearing off the pieces of meat that showed glowing below the sea as they turned to come once more.”(118) Santiago was tired and weak from dealing with the sharks and most of the marlin was gone. In the end, he defeated the sharks and made it home alive.

Santiago struggled with many obstacles and forces throughout the whole book. Some of the struggles were mental and others were physical. Whether it was being alone or fighting pain and sharks, Santiago was able to get through each obstacle by himself.

By Sean M.

Throughout The Old Man and the Sea, the old man was portrayed through the various hardships that he was forced to overcome. Adaptation and perseverance were critical as Santiago outlasted each challenge he faced. Even after the marlin had been subdued, the challenge of defeating the sharks and reeling the fish in was yet to come. The complications Santiago overcame showed he was committed to catching the marlin; they also showed his pure love for fishing.

Santiago woke up on the eighty-fifth day of the year knowing it was going to be a lucky day. He set out in his skiff and caught a marlin like he had never seen before, as it was longer then his small boat. Despite his positive outlook, the fight was far from easy. For three days the old man struggled with the giant marlin. He never gave up even with an injured right hand holding onto the line that kept the fish at bay. Hemingway expresses this obstacle when he states, ”He felt the line carefully with his right hand and noticed his hand was bleeding” (55-56). Santiago knew there would only be one winner in this battle: either him or the fish. The fish was not giving up and Santiago would not renounce either.

Fighting for the life of the marlin exhausted Santiago. The old man knew if he tried to sleep and the fish started jumping or making sudden movements the line could snap or the hook could come out. “I could go without sleeping, he told himself. But it would be too dangerous” (77). He could only rest if the fish rested. One factor to this exhaustion was his lack of food and water. Heroically, he caught smaller fish to utilize for energy. Such steadfast courage conveyed the determination of Santiago, and Hemingways’ portrayal of ambition in the face of danger.

The sharks that came and attacked Santiago’s marlin were the last things that he wanted to deal with. After an extensive period of sacrifice that fully tested his endurance, the old man was not prepared for this new arrival. There was nothing Santiago could do to shirk the sharks’ attack. Sharks are superior at tracking the scent of blood and are tremendously hard to kill because of their quickness. In his state of exhaustion, the efficient killers were overwhelming. The predators swiftly dismembered Santiago’s immense catch, stripping the fish to the bones. “The old man could see pieces of the meat of the fish spilling white from the corner of his jaws as he bumped the fish and closed his jaws” (113) is an example of Santiago’s calm amidst the chaos of the sea. Despite the ferociousness of the sharks, his thoughts were solely on the preservation of the marlin and a logical reasoning of how to survive the situation. Regardless of the marlin’s dismemberment, the determined fisherman was overcome with pride that he had remained so stalwart in his capture.

With his courage and integrity, did the old man really get what he wanted? Even though the fish was eaten down to the bones by the sharks, he still had the pride of catching the great marlin. Although he struggled with the fish for three days, and beat it with tremendous fatigue, he succeeded with what his intensions were: catching the largest fish he could find, and nothing more. The old man caught the marlin after a long struggle with the various elements the sea had to offer him. Santiago never gave up; he was an old man trying to survive the toughest environment had to offer him.

By Sean G.

In many great literary works, there are powerful conflicts that significantly affect the plot and the actions of the main character. In many of these conflicts, there are forces or obstacles that the main character needs to confront. Such is the case in Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and the Sea. This is a novella about the rigorous journey of an 84-year old man and his struggle with catching a marlin at sea. The old man, Santiago, is faced with a variety of conflicts that test him both mentally and physically. In order to show the labor-intensive job of catching a large fish, such as a marlin, Hemingway explicitly describes Santiago’s internal struggles, and he describes his struggles with nature, as well.

In Santiago’s epic battle with the great marlin, he is affected by fatigue. Santiago is an octogenarian, alone on the open ocean. He is attempting to use his wealth of knowledge of the sea to catch a 1,000-pound fish. While he may be able to outsmart the fish, the fish at some point wears Santiago down. In the novella, Santiago is so exhausted that he almost feels as if the fish is slowly wearing him down to the point of death. “You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who” (92). Santiago feels there is no possible way for either the marlin or him to come out of the ordeal unscathed. He knows it is very likely that at least one of them will be hurt or possibly killed. Santiago’s energy fades very quickly because the fish is such a strong creature. Because of Santiago’s fatigue, his ability to catch the prized fish is significantly hindered.

Another one of Santiago’s struggles is an internal battle with himself. Fishing is the only thing Santiago lives for and he feels that if he fails, he might as well be dead. Although he is exhausted, he still has an internal drive to catch the giant marlin. He is attempting to prove to himself that even though he is an elderly man, he still has the ability to conquer such a massive fish. “I’m tireder than I have ever been, he thought, and now the trade wind is rising. But that will be good to take him in with. I need that badly” (89). Although Santiago does not come back with what he is expecting, he returns with a reward much greater than the fish could ever represent. He proves to himself that he can still actively pursue such a prized animal.

Throughout the entire novella, Santiago struggles with the lack of sufficient equipment needed to capture the marlin. He uses very simple fishing tools, rather than larger devices meant for this type of fish. The fishing line Santiago uses is very thin and not as strong as he would like. Because of this, he is compelled to use his hands to hold on to the line in order to make sure it does not break. This eventually puts severe lacerations on Santiago’s hands and makes one of his hands cramp up so badly that he is unable to use it any further. “The bird had flown up when the line jerked and the old man had not even seen him go. He felt the line carefully with his right hand and noticed his hand was bleeding” (55-56). Due to not having the proper equipment for the job, Santiago is forced to create makeshift weapons to ward off attacking sharks. Santiago attaches his knife to the end of an oar and uses it as a spear to kill one of the sharks. He beat another shark by using the boat’s tiller. Santiago’s ingenuity and wisdom help him ward off would-be attackers.


The Old Man and the Sea is a very rich and deep story replete with many hidden messages. It is a story about life and the mental and physical struggles many people encounter. On one hand, Santiago wants to capture the prized fish, and yet he struggles with his connection to the sea and to the marlin itself. While he has an enormous love for fishing, he also has an internal drive that he does not want extinguished. Although he is an aged man, Santiago refuses to let the fish defeat him either mentally or physically. All of the conflicts mentioned make Santiago a wise man that continually internally battles with himself and with the forces of nature. In the end, Santiago is victorious because his desire for fishing continues.

By Rachel L.

Every story has an important theme that shapes the story and its characters, and that readers can relate to and apply to their life. One very important theme to The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, is that it isn’t where you’re going that’s important, but how you get there. I’ve found this to be true in the book, in my life as an individual, and in the life of every human being.

In the book, Santiago returns home with only the remains of the fish he caught. He says to Manolin on page 124, ‘ “They beat me. They truly beat me.” ’ Manolin then replies, ‘ “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish.” ’ One might think that Santiago failed, but Manolin disagrees. Although Santiago’s fish was ruined, he had to prove to himself that he was still a good fisherman, even in his old age, and Manolin feels that he certainly succeeded in that. Santiago didn’t come back with the fish, but he came back with an experience that is worth so much more.

I can really relate to this theme right now. If all goes as planned, I’ll be moving to Illinois this summer. I would have to say good-bye to all my friends and probably never see them again. However, I’m going to enjoy the time I have left in South Hadley. I’ll continue to make friends and have fun with people, and simply live in the moment. A quote that I feel reflects this is: “You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to…Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who” (92). Metaphorically, it’s saying that the end, where one of them is killed, isn’t as important as everything leading up to it. I won’t be able to enjoy the rest of my year here if all I’m thinking about is moving.

Every person on Earth can apply this theme to his or her life. The absolute end for each individual is death, something that is completely inevitable. However, one cannot live their whole life worrying about the end. They must focus on how they get there, and on living life to the fullest. After having been attacked by sharks, Santiago speaks to the fish: “I ruined us both. But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others. How many did you ever kill, old fish? You do not have that spear in your head for nothing” (115). It’s saying that although the fish was ruined in the end, he killed many creatures in his life. In the same way, each person should have a successful life, and be happy with what they’ve done.

This theme is very crucial to the book, in that it didn’t matter that Santiago didn’t bring back the fish, because it was his knowledge that he could catch such a magnificent fish that was important. It’s something I need to remember in my own life, because I need to not worry about the move, but instead make the months leading up to it as fun as they can be. On a larger scale, it’s something that every living person needs to keep in mind. There’s absolutely nothing we can do about dying, but we can make choices that will make our lives worthwhile. I have found it to be so true, that it is not the destination that matters, but the journey.

By Taylor S.

In everyday life, we as people have struggles to confront, challenges to overcome, and uncontrollable, unexpected forces to face. In Ernest Hemingway’s novella, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, an old fisherman who lived a simple life, had to face the daily trials of his physical limitations, the incredible strength of sharks, and frustration of not having adequate supplies. Such obstacles not only impacted the plot of the story but also affected and shaped Santiago as a character.

Perhaps the most obvious of Santiago’s physical limitations was his old age. Even though Santiago almost always referred to himself as “old man,” he rarely thought of himself as unable to do things because of his age. He more often griped about how his left hand was weaker than his right and sometimes betrayed him. “But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it” (71). Several times in the story, Santiago worried that his left hand would cramp and fail him so that the great fish would slip away.

In the segment of the story in which the battle ensues between Santiago and the sharks, much energy was expended in both parties. Sometimes the sharks came in groups of two or more. Santiago had to concentrate on fighting because he had to accommodate his skills and strength to the number of sharks attacking him. Even when there was only one shark, he couldn’t be off guard because some of the sharks were so big. “And he was the biggest dentuso that I have ever seen. And God knows I have seen big ones” (103).

As a fisherman with years of experience, Santiago surprisingly went out to sea unprepared. “You should have brought many things, he thought. But you did not bring them, old man” (110). One of the things Santiago did not bring was salt and limes to season the raw fish he caught to eat. It was unfortunate he did not bring them because he was famished from lack of food. He did not want to eat and afterwards feel nauseated. Also, Santiago regretted not bringing a stone to sharpen his knife so he could use it as a more effective weapon against the sharks. Perhaps if he had thought more ahead and brought more, he would not have had such a difficult time.

Santiago’s experience catching the great marlin, fighting off sharks, and returning to his town alive was one of value. Even though his left hand was not as useful as his right, he exerted tremendous amounts of effort to compensate for it. Not once did he let the idea of being too old stop him. The battle with the sharks shaped his character, making him realize that he wasn’t just fighting for his life, but he was fighting to preserve his marvelous fish. Santiago gained wisdom when he noticed that he wasn’t as prepared as he should be. He learned from his mistakes and grew stronger. Lastly, the plot of the story was affected by these struggles. For example, if Santiago had been more prepared, he may have been able to fend off the sharks and would bring the fish home with meat on its bones. Without struggles, The Old Man and the Sea could have turned out to be a very different book, and Santiago a very different person.

By Nora M.

The Old Man and the Sea is a novella about an elderly man named Santiago and his struggles to catch a fish. Santiago was battling Mother Nature as he traveled way out into the ocean. Throughout the book, Hemingway describes all the obstacles Santiago faced while out at sea. These obstacles include things such as; shark attacks, dealing with a cramped hand, and fatigue because of the lack of food.

Santiago faced many dangers out at sea, one of them being multiple shark attacks. “When the old man saw him coming he knew that this was a shark that had no fear at all and would do exactly what he wished” (101). This is what the old man was thinking when he saw the first shark beginning to come closer. To this one he rammed the harpoon onto the shark’s head, in between his eyes. Though it seemed like the obvious solution, he actually lost his harpoon. He got creative though in finding other ways to kill the sharks, because unfortunately for him he encountered several more sharks. Unfortunately for him though he lost all the meat off of his fish before returning home.

Another challenge Santiago faced, was his cramped hand. As you know, your hands are an absolute necessity for fishing, so this cramp caused some problems for Santiago. “How do you feel, hand? he asked the cramped hand that was almost as stiff as rigor mortis” (58). Rigor Mortis is the stiffening of the body after death, so as you can imagine Santiago’s hand was very hard and rocklike. He thought the cramp was just going to be temporary. So he tried to just continue on with his regular routine. But it didn’t go away so he had to struggle with it the whole journey, but he didn’t let that stop him from catching a great fish and fighting off sharks.

As you can imagine, Santiago didn’t have much food to begin with. He was just relying on the fish he caught, but since he didn’t catch many, he struggled with fatigue. “Twice, though, he had felt faint and dizzy and that had worried him” (87). Not eating for a long time is harmful to anyone, but especially Santiago with his old age, and being out in the hot sun all day. Sometimes he would try to eat, but feel very nauseous. He did force himself to eat enough to keep going. And he would also force himself to sleep because he was having trouble functioning sometimes because he was so tired. Somehow though Santiago had enough strength to get home alive.

Hemingway did a great job of really using detail to describe the challenges Santiago faced. Though shark attacks, fatigue and a bad hand are very hard to deal with those are only a few of the struggles the old man dealt with. It really showed how much willpower Santiago had because he could have easily given up. He wanted to catch a fish so bad and bring it home to everyone. Santiago struggled so hard to catch that big fish, and then all his happiness vanished when the sharks ate all the meat off. He could have given up right here, he was tired, hungry and he had nothing to show for his long hard journey. But he didn’t stop, he kept going. Though he returned home with nothing, he still knew in his mind how much he accomplished at sea, and that’s all that mattered to him in the end.

By Mike W.

In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, there is an old and determined character named Santiago. He can be described as a heart-filled fisherman and goes through what he can consider the most arduous fight of his life, which is to take in a giant marlin. But what makes it worse is his weakness and pain. The obstacles in the story that get in his way from easily taking in the fish form the conflict and plot of the story.


One of these obstacles includes his hand that cramped on him. “He rubbed the cramped hand against his trousers and tried to gentle the fingers” (60), is what the author states. Santiago’s left hand cramped up because of using too many lines through one night. He has lots of trouble loosening the cramp which makes him wish the boy was with him. If he were there, he wouldn’t have to hope for it to open up with the sun. This pain affects Santiago’s fishing because he’s forced to using his right hand to fish with little help from his left. Imagine that with a fish that weighs almost a ton. It also makes him worry greatly on what the fish will do seeing how he doesn’t have much control over the fish.


Also, a good example would be the sympathy he felt for the fish. “Then he was sorry for the great fish that had nothing to eat and his determination to kill him never relaxed in his sorrow for him” (75). I think this quote shows it’s a good example because it seems he’s having trouble implying himself to think that he should kill the fish and struggles to stay mentally strong. Despite how much of an accomplishment it was for the old man, he still says it’s bad to kill such wonderful creatures. He refers to it as a true brother and doesn’t think people should be given a chance to eat the marlin he caught.


Another obstacle that was important to the story was when the old man had to battle the sharks. “The shark closed fast astern and when he hit the fish the old man saw his mouth open and his strange eyes and the clicking chop of the teeth as he drove forward in the meat just above the tail”(101). This is a quote that gives a good picture of this particular scene. Even after Santiago battled a fish for a few days, he still had to fend off multiple sharks all the way back to shore. He used a knife, two oars, a tiller, and a short club as weapons against the sharks.


An obstacle that was probably the hardest for the old man to get beyond, was his fight with the sharks for a couple of reasons. The great, big fish he caught lost a massive amount of weight due to the sharks ripping out so much meat. This doesn’t make it a great, big fish anymore like Santiago wanted. In my opinion though, he’s still happy and feels fortunate because he caught the biggest fish of his life. This I think made him realize even though he’s very old, he can still fish like he used to.

By Mic B.

My award-winning novella, An Old Man, a Young Man and the Seaizzle, is a sequel to The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. The Old Man and the Sea is a dramatic story about an old man, Santiago, and his open ocean expedition to catch a great marlin with nothing but lines and his own two hands. An Old Man, a Young Man and the Seaizzle, is a few years after Santiago caught the marlin. This time Santiago feels that he can seize a more superior fish and return home with it whole using the help from his young man companion, Manolin.

Manolin and Santiago already possessed a great bond, which was developed in the first book. Ever since Manolin was a little boy he was fishing with Santiago but his parents didn’t approve too well because the old man would be out for many days and not return home with anything. But in the sequel Manolin is old enough to make his own decisions and he decides to go for Santiago’s last adventure in hopes that with his help and companionship, it would be easier on the old man and the reward would be greater than the last… Boy, how wrong he was.

An Old Man, a Young Man and the Seaizzle captures the relationship development of the two main characters as they face the rough, open ocean, the dangers it brings and even the danger they bring upon themselves and to one another. In the exposition of the story, the two men enjoy each other’s company and talk very often. Manolin can tell that Santiago appreciates his presence and is grateful not to be alone this time. As the story progresses the old man begins to become delusional.

Santiago with his age, his mind starts to deceive him. One night when the waters were calm and the sun was submerging out from the horizon into the open skies, Manolin woke up to find Santiago throwing all the food and supplies over the skiff. “Old man! Have you lost your mind?!” Then hesitant as the old man sat with no words, looking mindlessly into the sky, Manolin realizes that Santiago is lost in a deep sleep. As Manolin puts his hand on Santiago’s shoulder, the old man wakes with a start and with no recollection, accuses Manolin of the act. Manolin puts up with Santiago hoping it’s just the heat and the mischievous ocean playing tricks on the old man’s mind but in the climax of the novella Santiago gets worse.

One day Manolin had enough. All the accusations and pointless grudges from the old man accumulated and by taking an oar into his hands, he struck Santiago in the back of the head knocking him out unconscious. “Sprawled on the floor of the skiff he lie. His mouth gaping open. ‘Santiago?’ the young man whispered, ‘please forgive me.’” He then rowed the boat to a deserted island and left the old man behind.

In the falling action, Manolin is consumed by guilt and he loses his mind. He realizes that if he were to go to get the old man, then the old man would kill him for the unforgivable crime he committed. However, if he decided to go back to the village, he would be hanged for mutiny. For the resolution of An Old Man, a Young Man and the Seaizzle, Manolin ties himself to the skiff and sinks it to the bottom of the ocean drowning himself and the Santiago’s dream of catching the biggest marlin.

By Meaghan M.

Dreams are abstract and mysterious things. They often have multiple meanings and can be interpreted in various ways. Santiago dreams of the lions on the beach three times over the course of the novella, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, and his dreams are no exception. The significance of these dreams may be understood differently by individuals within a group of readers. There may even be a variety of ideas as to the meaning of Santiago’s dreams in the mind of a single reader. These ideas lead the reader to the question, why did Hemingway use these dreams in his writing, and leave them vague and unexplained?

Santiago’s dream gives a sense of youth and seems to have a connection to Manolin. “He only dreamed of places now and of the lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dust and he loved them as he loved the boy” (25). Santiago is subconsciously thinking of Manolin as he struggles to catch the marlin, and it puts him at ease. The dream reminds Santiago of his youth, and it makes him stronger. Youth also suggests innocence. In Santiago’s battle, it is comforting to dream of the innocence of the young.

The fact that Santiago dreamed of the fierce lions playing, rather than fighting demonstrates peace. There can be unity between conflicting people and forces and the barriers between them can be overcome. The dream also allows Santiago to feel at peace within him. “After that he began to dream of the long yellow beach and he saw the first of the lions come down onto it in the early dark and then the other lions came and he rested his chin on the wood of the bows where the ship lay anchored wit the evening off-shore breeze and he waited to see if there would be more lions and he was happy” (81). When Santiago dreams about the lions while sleeping on his skiff during his contest with the fish, he is able to have a time of serenity.

As well as giving a sense of youth, Santiago’s dream signifies death and the circle of life. Santiago’s final dream of the lions suggests a closing and a new beginning. “He was still sleeping on his face and the boy was sitting by him and watching him. The old man was dreaming about the lions” (127). By ending his novella on this note, Hemingway closes not only his story, but also a chapter of Santiago’s life and his own life. The dreams show life, death, and rebirth.
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Although the intended meaning of Santiago’s reoccurring dream remains a puzzle, the reader can conclude that youth, peace, and the circle of life are all components of it. The meaning of the dream of the lions lies within the mind of the reader. Hemingway used the dream to show an end, perhaps in his own life and career. By tying his own life into his writing, Hemingway expresses to the reader that they, too, can learn from the story.

By Jeff M.

In the novella Old Man and the Sea, the author, Ernest Hemingway, depicts the special relationship between Santiago and Manolin. The relationship takes many forms as with father to son, friend to friend, and master to apprentice. This relationship shows one of the strong compassions Santiago has beside the love for the sea. Santiago and Manolin have a distinct affection for each other which is shown through their common interest in baseball and their mutual love for the sea. I think without Santiago’s relationship to Manolin the story would be much different. I believe he would not have had the motivation to return home during his struggle with Marlin and his struggle with the sharks if he did not have Manolin waiting for him.

Throughout the story, Santiago occasionally comments on how he wishes Manolin was there. A quote that signifies the necessity of Manolin to Santiago and how he might just not need Manolin for help in towing the fish but also he wants Manolin there for morale support; Santiago says “I wish I had the boy… I’m being towed by a fish and I’m towing the bitt.” ( 45). I believe he wants Manolin just to see a fish the size as that of the Marlin and the majesty of it, or learn about catching a fish that large instead of Santiago just needing assistance in catching the marlin. Santiago feels the need to teach Manolin due to the fact that he needs to pass on his knowledge before he dies.

I believe Santiago feels he needs to teach the boy because he is trying to live vicariously through him. Santiago sees himself in Manolin as he viewed himself when he was a young boy. These visions of Santiago as a boy are vaguely portrayed through his dreams. An impacting quote of Santiago’s childhood is “He only dreamed of places now and of the lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy.”( 25). Since Santiago has no children of his own, and cannot due to the fact that his wife is dead, he feels he must pass down his legacy through Manolin.

Even though Santiago and Manolin’s relationship can be seen as an adult to child relationship it can also be viewed as a peer to peer relationship. This is seen visibly through their nonchalant talk about sports and how they keep their “small talk” isolated from their conversation of work. The way they talk to each other after work is similar to the way school students talk to each other after class. An example of their conversation after work said by Manolin is “The Yankees cannot lose… But I fear the Indians of Cleveland.” (17)
Throughout the story, Manolin and Santiago seem to gravitate towards each other through the trials they face such as poverty, separation and defeat. The society in which Manolin and Santiago live is a very poor one; they use each other for morale support in such a bad situation. Even though Manolin is taken off of Santiago’s ship and put on a different fishing boat they still maintain a great relationship on shore as well. An aspect in which Santiago relies on Manolin is when he returns to shore with a skeleton of his once prized catch. This is an overall theme of how through desperate times in life the relationship between Manolin and Santiago grows stronger and perseveres.

By Erika J.

In English class, we read a novella called The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. The book was about an old man with a love for fishing who goes on a four day adventure to catch a fish, but in the end he loses it. The main character, Santiago, faces many struggles and conflicts, in order to catch the fish. His struggles and conflicts shape the plot of the book and is very important.

One thing that Santiago struggles with while trying to catch the marlin is he is old, and has been doing this so long that he has scars and the fishing life gave him skin cancer. He struggles with the fact that he might not be able to do it anymore. “The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. The brown blotches of skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The blotches ran well down the sides of his face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from the handing heavy fish on the cords. But none of the scars were fresh. They were as old as erosions in a fishless desert,” (10). This gives a very good idea of how Santiago is. He is old and this shows how much the fishing his whole life has done to him. When he attempts to get the fish I think that being how he is, it would be hard for him to get it.

A second thing that he struggles with is actually killing the fish. “You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who,” (92). He was slowly getting weaker and you can tell by this sentence. He is no longer able to speak due to the lack of water and when he says I don’t care who kills who, this really shows that he is weak and not caring anymore. “Now you are getting confused in the head, he thought. You must keep your head clear. Keep your head clear and know how to suffer like a man,” (92). He knows he was getting weak and his mind was thinking all this bad thoughts because he wasn’t focused on what he was doing.

A third struggle he has is finishing the work he has to do when he kills the fish. Trying to get the fish takes a lot out of him, so in the end when he gets the fish, he has no more strength to do what he needs to do after he gets the fish. “I am a tired old man. But I have killed this fish which is my brother and now I must do the slave work,” (95). It is hard for him to get all his strength back when it takes all his might to kill the fish, and he is not going to be able to do it anymore without straining out all of his energy.

Santiago faces many struggles that shape the plot of this novella. He is old and the sun is giving him skin cancer, he struggles with killing the fish after he catches it, and he struggles with his strength he is during the whole process of doing it. I think these struggles also shape the type of person he is. Hemmingway gives specific examples of how he is a successful person. He also never gives up, and fights for his passion and love of fishing. Santiago being old doesn’t stop him at all. I think that he is a success because of this.

By Derek P.

In the story The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway makes sure that Santiago is described as a strong, hard working old man. Even though he is strong and powerful he still encounters both physical and mental struggles throughout his adventure on the sea. His struggle with the marlin and the fight with his mind are conflicts that he struggles with almost the entire journey. His internal and external conflicts with his surroundings make for a saga in the sea that no other man could compare with.

One of Santiago’s struggles out at sea was one with a giant marlin. Santiago battled with the Marlin for 3 days. Santiago had a very unique mindset about fishing. He believed that both fighters had the right to win. This idea from page 92 basically showed that Santiago was willing to fight to death. Santiago fought with the marlin until there was one obvious loser. This idea broke Santiago down both physically and mentally. He put all of his physical energy into fighting the marlin. The epic battle left him with visible lacerations all over his hands, and a body that was nearly dead. The old worn down Santiago was forced to finish his job because of his beliefs. The physical toll that Santiago perceived was brutal but it was what made him catch the fish in the end.

Another conflict that Santiago had to deal with was him against his head. He was so devoted on proving that he could catch the marlin. He had to show himself that despite his old age, he was very able to catch a large fish. If he did not have this drive to prove, then he probably wouldn’t have had the success that he had catching the marlin. It was his determination that kept him going for three days. Santiago’s will was tested countless times. I thought that Santiago successfully overcame his problems well and caught the fish just as he had hoped.

I also thought that Santiago’s dreams could have been considered a problem. His dreams were about lions in the jungle. In the jungle the lions are the main predators. They can’t be defeated. Santiago’s goal is to be the main predator of the sea and be thought of as the lion of the sea. As Santiago struggles to catch the marlin he knows that the outcome of his battle will inflect whether he can be considered the lion or just a regular fisherman. I think of this as a conflict because he is so dependant on being like this. Santiago’s drive to be like the lions is one that helps him catch the marlin.

Santiago shows signs of courage, will, and determination, as he overcomes the odds and defeated both physical and mental challenges. The challenges that were presented to him motivated him to keep going, and eventually resulted in the catching of the marlin.

By David W.

In The Old Man and the Sea, the author Hemingway had a central theme in this novella. The central theme is that “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” I got this impression because Hemingway’s decision to have his main character, Santiago, have a four day struggle with a giant marlin and in the end, lose his prize fish. There are many examples throughout the story that support that general theme.

The first quote shows that although he has only half of the mutilated fish left, he still reflects on all the things he did along the way and is still looking for continuing the journey until the last piece of fish is gone. That is why Santiago states: “Half fish” he said. “Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both. But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others” (pg. 115). That quote shows that throughout the journey he has bonded with this great fish. It is also suggestive that through his journey he has learned more things along the way than if he simply caught the fish and came right home.

This next quote gets a few points across that are supportive of the theme. One point is that even though he has reached his destination of catching this gigantic marlin, he still wants to continue the journey home. Most men at his age would just settle for the fact that he actually caught the fish, but Santiago still wants to continue and try to return home with the fish. His wanting to continue his “journey” is represented in this following quote: “Keep my head clear,” he said against the wood of the bow. “I am a tired man. But I have killed this fish which is my brother and now I must do the slave work” (pg. 95). The final point this quote will show is that even though Santiago believes the journey is taking the fish home and not the actual experience of catching the fish, he has bonded with this fish to the point where he considers him his brother. That also is suggestive that throughout the journey he has achieved something greater than just catching the fish or the fish being taken by the sharks.

The final supporting quote shows the opposite views of how Santiago perceived the journey versus how Manolin perceived it. Santiago felt defeated at the end showing that he believed that he failed at the "destination" of returning this fish home. That is why the defeated Santiago says, “They beat me, Manolin,” he said. “They truly beat me.” Manolin then says to Santiago, “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish” (pg.124). However, Manolin believed that he had achieved his goal by actually catching this fish and that he learned more about himself throughout the journey. That is how this quote is supportive of the theme.

As you can see through the three supporting quotes, the theme of the journey being more important than the destination is evident throughout the story. However, how do I apply Santiago’s teachings of this theme to my own life? Well, for a start Santiago is always looking ahead not necessarily to his destination but to what he can do for the journey. That is something I can apply to anything that I do in life. Another thing I can take from this theme in the story is the fact that in life you do not always reach your desired “destination” so to speak, but as Santiago teaches us, you can learn much more through the journey than you ever could through reaching your destination.

By Brynna S.

Often in life people face many challenges and obstacles, but with the right tools they can be overcome. It is sometimes with great difficulty and perplexity, but it can be done. In the novella The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, the main character is an applicable example of this. Santiago faces obstacles, and tackles them head on despite all the things working against him. Though being both physically and mentally worn down, Santiago continues to fight. A few of the many obstacles Santiago overcame on his treacherous journey include fighting off the sharks, working through his injured hand, and defeating the odds by hanging on through his old age without the boy.

Santiago encounters a number of different sharks on his way back to shore. The first who tries to eat the marlin he stabs with his spear. Though the shark left, it took the spear with it. Therefore when more sharks began approaching his little skiff he had to think of new ways to fight them off. He took the tiller off of his small boat and beat the sharks with it. Not only did he do that but he tied his knife to one of his oars and used it as a new spear. “But that was the location of the brain and the old man hit it. He hit it with his blood mushed hands driving a good harpoon with all his strength. He hit it without hope but with resolution and complete malignancy.”(102).Although most of the marlin had been eaten, Santiago prevented it from being taken completely.

During the fight for the marlin Santiago had continued to hold the fishing line for days. After quite a while his hand cramped up on him and refused to open. He figured he would let it loosen itself. The time came though when he would need his other hand to reel in the fish. He tried with all his might but his hand wouldn't budge. He was forced to work with one hand, and began to wonder: “Why was I not born with two good hands? He thought. Perhaps it was my fault in not training that one properly. But god knows he has had enough chances to learn. He did not do so badly in the night, though, and he has only cramped once. If he cramps again, let the line cut him off.” (85). He states in the quote, that he would rather lose his hand then give up now. it to the side of his skiff. With one hand alone he had managed to bring in the enormous marlin, beat it dead, and tie

Lastly, Santiago managed to overcome an obstacle one would never think could be done.He was old and growing more feeble and he still managed to bring in a gargantuan marlin without any assistance. Though the man numerous times wished for his fishing companion, he was still able to bring in a 16 foot fish single-handedly. In the book after killing the shark Santiago says, “Everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive” (106). The boy had always taken good care of him and was a huge help at sea. They were partners, so it was hard for Santiago when he didn’t have him around anymore.

In the novella The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, a lonely old man managed to beat the odds and fight nature. He overcame great obstacles and difficulties. At times it seemed like everything in the world was working against Santiago. It looked as if he had no chance in the world at winning. He might have even believed that himself a few times, but that didn’t make him give up. By keeping his head up, his pride in check, and determination burning in his heart he was lucky enough to overcome his obstacles. I say lucky enough, but I know it wasn't luck. It was the determination and hard work of one man.

By Adam B.

In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago made many choices that impacted how he caught the fish and how the story progressed. One of the very important choices that kind of goes unnoticed in the story is when Santiago decides to bring along a lot of extra line.

The thought of bringing extra line has come across the minds of many fishermen but it comes natural to experienced fishermen like Santiago. He wasn’t even of thinking about the line when he was loading everything in his skiff. “He let the line slip through his fingers while he reached down with his left hand and made fast to the free end of the reserve coils to the loop of the two reserve coils of the next line. Now he was ready. He had three forty-fathoms coils of line in reserve now” (44). This quote is explaining how Santiago is adding the reserve coils of line to the line he already has. It even says, “Now he was ready.” Without the line he would not have been able to let the fish pull him and without a lot of line the line would of ended up snapping.

The value of the prize is worth more than the cost of the equipment and material items. “I will work back to the forty fathom bait and cut it away too and link up the reserve coils. I will have lost two hundred fathoms of good Catalan cardel and hooks and leaders. That can be replaced” (50). Santiago puts every single reserve lines on to the line with the big fish. He does not care if he looses all of his hooks and weights. He just doesn’t want anything to get in the way of catching the fish. He is really willing to throw all of his fishing gear away to catch the big fish. He says the things can be replaced but this fish can not be. It is either now or never.

Fishing line is the whole key to fishing. “Then he felt the gentle touch of the line and he was happy” (41). The line is what you really need. You don’t need a pole or weights or even bait just the line and the hook and you will be all set. As Santiago did, without using a pole, it can be done without all the fancy fishing equipment that people use today to go sea fishing.

The fishing line and hooks are the key to fishing, the bait also helps. It was a critical choice that Santiago made. The choice to bring multiple spare lines out in the skiff was a very good choice. Without the spare lines Santiago would not of been able to let the big fish swim until he got tired. Without that the line would of snapped and Santiago would not of been able to catch the big fish. In fishing the line weighs more than any amount of weights that you could put together.

By Abbey L.

In every novella there is a person that has conflicts. In the novella The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago faces many obstacles in trying to catch a marlin. The Old Man is alone in the sea and needs help at certain times. Santiago’s fishing line cuts his hand and he has trouble holding onto the line. He has to fight off sharks and he has to think quickly. Another time Santiago has a struggle during the novella is when he does not have any food. He doesn’t have enough money to get any food either.

Santiago is fishing for the marlin when all of a sudden the fish tugs on the line and cuts his left hand badly. He has lots of trouble because he cannot let go of the line or else he will lose the Marlin. Santiago tries to let the wound dry in the sun but he doesn’t have the proper tools to have it heal properly. Santiago uses his right hand for everything, which is hard because it is not his strong hand. He uses his right hand to cut tuna for strength while his left hand cramps up holding the fishing line. To show that Santiago is struggling with his cut hand he says to himself “You can let the cord go, hand, and I will handle him with the right arm alone until you stop that nonsense”. (Pg 59) Santiago managed with his wound and kept the fish.

While Santiago is struggling with his injured hand the marlin also gets injured and fills the water with its blood. While the blood is turning the water red, sharks approach. Santiago has to think quickly, he decides to throw his harpoon at it which draws more blood. By more blood being in the sea additional sharks come to the scene. The sharks attack and kill the marlin but Santiago keeps his head up knowing that he has fought the fish until its death. “’But I killed the shark that hit my fish,’ he thought”. (Pg 103) Santiago was proud of himself that he stuck with his mission and accomplished it.

Santiago also has a problem with food. He cannot catch anything to eat nor buy any food. Santiago has no money due to not working, he also could not catch a fish for 894 days which is no help for him to eat. Santiago depends on other people to help him out and lend him food. Sometimes it people give him good other times they do not. The young boy borrowed some food from a store owner, Martin and Santiago says “I must thank him.” “[He has done this before]" That quote is showing that Santiago has gotten food from Martin and feels he needs to repay him in some way.

In all situations people struggle with conflicts, Santiago is one of them. He is faced with problems that he has to think quickly about and he accomplished them well. The struggles that Santiago are faced with makes the plot of the novella. The conflicts that I have given you are only a few examples of the problems that he is confronted with. For Santiago being an old man he stuck with his job and all the problems that he was forced to deal with.