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.
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.
4 comments:
Great essay meaghan! I thought your thesis at the end of your intro paragraph was very clear and well thought out. It was engaging and made me want to read the rest to find out the answer. My favorite quote was in your 4th paragraph, because although it was short, it provided good evidence and was woven into your essay nicely. My favorite thing about your essay was your topic, because his dreams are not something I thought about a lot. It kept me engaged the entire time. Great job!
Your thesis is clearly stated at the end of the first paragraph. I like the question format, it leaves me wanting to read on. My favorite example is the anylisis of Hemingway's ending. It's interesting to think of the dreams showing life, death, and rebirth.
My favorite part of this essay is the topic. I think you took on a challenging topic to write about and did a really good job with it. Dreams are really abstract and mysterious, and i like reading an essay about them.
One thing you could work on for next time is maybe cutting back on the first paragraph's length so that the thesis stands out more.
I liked your essay a lot. The essay is clearly stated, and I like how you kind of went off with your own prompt instead of one of the ones given. I liked your quote on page 127 best, but I'm not sure why. I think I liked how the lions are a thing that Santiago finds peace thinking about. Like Katie and Connie, my favorite part is your topic, and how you did so well capturing the meaning of dreams. I don't have anything to reccomend for future writing.
Meaghan, really interesting topic I glad you chose it. Your thesis was very clearly stated and interesting. My favorite quote was “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” because I love how you used it to symbolize the circle of life. I enjoyed how your essay tackles the unexplained but relative dreams about the lions. Your points add easily with the dreams and help clarify some of Hemingway’s rambles. For advice I offer to maybe a bit more open ended statement rather than saying 'the dreams mean this' because Hemingway may never have even known what the dreams truly meant. Otherwise great job I highly enjoyed it.
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