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.