What is the main point of The Old Man and the Sea?
The Old Man and the Sea is the story of an epic struggle between an old, seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life. For eighty-four days, Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, has set out to sea and returned empty-handed.
What is the story about the old man and the sea?
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.
What is the conclusion of The Old Man and the Sea?
The conclusion of The Old Man and the Sea is the return of Santiago to shore, with only the carcass of the marlin he caught in tow.
Is the old man and the sea a true story?
The old man was based on a blue-eyed Cuban named Gregorio Fuentes. Although Hemingway said the old man, Santiago, was based on “nobody in particular,” he most likely used aspects of his fishing buddy Gregorio Fuentes when developing the character.
Why do boys stop fishing in Santiago?
Manolin is a boy Santiago has known for a long time. He used to go fishing with the old man and they’ve grown close because of it. The boy is not fishing with the old man anymore because his father believes the old man doesn’t bring good luck since he hasn’t caught a fish in eighty four days.
Why did Manolin leave Santiago?
Santiago, an old fisherman, has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish. For the first forty days, a boy named Manolin had fished with him, but Manolin’s parents, who call Santiago salao, or “the worst form of unlucky,” forced Manolin to leave him in order to work in a more prosperous boat.
Who is Santiago’s hero?
DiMaggio
What did Santiago eat for breakfast?
23. What did Santiago eat for breakfast? 23. Santiago ate tuna for breakfast to gain more strength to keep on fighting the fish.
What does Santiago see when he looks back at the fish?
For example, the narrative simply reports that Santiago knows “the depth of his tiredness” and objectively describes what Santiago sees when he looks back at the marlin’s skeleton beside the beached skiff, without moving into his thoughts.
Why did Santiago finally lose hope?
Why did Santiago finally lose hope? He lost hope because the sharks ate basically all the meat on the fish.
What is Manolin’s reaction when he finds Santiago asleep in the morning?
Manolin’s reaction to seeing Santiago home and safe is overwhelming relief and pride; the boy must also certainly hope he will be able to fish with his beloved Santiago once again.
What was the saddest thing Santiago ever saw?
He was beautiful, the old man remembered, and he had stayed. That was the saddest thing I ever saw with them, the old man thought. The boy was sad too and we begged her pardon and butchered her promptly. The story tells us much about Santiago’s feelings for the fish he is trying to catch.
What is the saddest thing the old man ever saw at sea?
The male fish always let the female fish feed first and the hooked fish, the female, made a wild, panic-stricken, despairing fight that soon exhausted her, and all the time the male had stayed with her… That was the saddest thing I ever saw with them, the old man thought.
What saddens Santiago when he catches a female Marlin?
How long has the fish been pulling the boat out to sea? Santiago thinks no one should be alone…..in what? What Saddens Santiago when he catches a female Marlin? The reaction of the male, who stayed by the boat, jumped high to look at a female, and then dove down deep.
Why can’t Santiago look at the mutilated Marlin?
Why can Santiago not look at the mutilated marlin? The marlin was his friend and he doesn’t think he honored the fish.
How does Santiago justify killing the Marlin?
Why or why not? Santiago justifies killing the marlin by saying that it is the natural order of things, “You were born to be a fisherman as the fish was born to be a fish.” (105) He continues to justify his actions by stating, “You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after.
How many sharks did Santiago kill?
five sharks
What did Manolin want to get for Santiago?
Manolin and Santiago haul the gear to the old man’s shack, which is furnished with nothing more than the barest necessities: a bed, a table and chair, and a place to cook. On the wall are two pictures: one of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and one of the Virgin of Cobre, the patroness of Cuba.
Why does the boy cry at the end?
He realizes that he is saved, but he cries for the loss of his friend Piggy. Ralph cries for the end of innocence in the lives of the boys on the island: Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.
What kind of shark is the first to attack Santiago’s boat after his big catch?
mako shark
What happened to Santiago’s wife?
Moreover, Santiago’s marlin being torn apart by sharks is symbolic of critics tearing apart The Old Man and the Sea, which is probably what Hemingway expected. Because of Hemingway’s loneliness, which was a result of his failed marriages and rejection by Adriana, Santiago’s wife is dead, and he is lonely and isolated.
Does Santiago die?
At the end of the novel The Old Man and the Sea, the main character Santiago possibly dies, but Hemingway makes it unclear. Most sources say that Hemingway means the last scene in a literal way; therefore, they say he does not actually die.
Who is Santiago’s favorite baseball player?
joe DiMaggio
What does Santiago call the sea?
Alone in his boat, in the dark of early morning, Santiago rows out to sea. Whereas Santiago affectionately refers to the sea as la mar (using the Spanish feminine), they say el mar (using the Spanish masculine).
Who is Manolin?
Manolin. A boy presumably in his adolescence, Manolin is Santiago’s apprentice and devoted attendant. The old man first took him out on a boat when he was merely five years old. Due to Santiago’s recent bad luck, Manolin’s parents have forced the boy to go out on a different fishing boat.
What does Manolin symbolize?
Manolin, the young boy who loves, admires, and cares for the old man, symbolizes hope and the future. He is Santiago’s only friend and companion; his help, literally, sustains the old man. Manolin is there every night helping pack up Santiago’s gear and providing food to make sure the old man won’t starve.
What does Manolin mean?
Manolin is Santiago’s last and deepest human relationship, his replacement in the generational cycle of human existence, the one to whom he wishes to entrust his skill as a fisherman, the transforming power of his vision, and his memory.
How big is the fish in The Old Man and the Sea?
“‘He was eighteen feet from nose to tail,’ the fisherman who was measuring him called.” So, the marlin was eighteen feet long, which means the skiff was sixteen feet in length. The name “skiff” is given to a small fishing boat, so this is a reasonable length for Santiago’s boat.
What is wrong with Santiago’s hand?
Santiago notices that his hand is bleeding from where the line has cut it. Aware that he will need to keep his strength, the old man makes himself eat the tuna he caught the day before, which he had expected to use as bait.
What does the fish symbolize in the Old Man and the Sea?
The marlin in The Old Man and the Sea symbolizes grace, courage, nobility, perseverance, and devotion. In many ways, the fish symbolizes Santiago, who calls him “my brother.” The marlin is also a symbol of the Santiago’s last act of greatness.