Symbolism in "the Old Man and the Sea"

                       Masterful writers use literary devices and techniques in a unique way to exemplify their mastery in writing. In  American literature, Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea" is a worthy symbolic novel which conveys the ability of the author to employ symbols to give literary value of the text. This work aims at showing the interest of Hemingway for symbols and his intention to represent themes behind the use of symbols in The old Man and the Sea. Among the major literary devices, symbols grab the attention of the readers, because of its ability to board the thinking capacity of the people. Thus, symbols stand for different interpretations and meanings.
                        Hemingway definitely used symbolism in his books. He mentioned how each item in 'The Old man the Sea' has two levels: the literal and the deeper meaning.

     The investigation of symbolism in 'the Old Man the Sea'

                    
  The Sea
          
                   Sea represents a great role in the novel as setting and a symbol. The main event of the story takes place in the sea. Here sea symbolizes the "universe" and the "Santiago's isolation in the universe". It is at sea, with no help and no recognition, that Santiago faces his ultimate challenge. The novel, in this regard, is an example of Naturalism in Literature. 

The Mast

                   At the end of The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago removes his mast from his skiff, and drags it from the beach, upon his shoulders by resting in several places on the way to his hut. The mast is an obvious allusion to the cross of Jesus. It is on his skiff, where stand the mast, that Santiago suffers at for three days with painful injuries to his palms and his back.

Lost Harpoon

                   Harpoon is the symbol of power of fishermen in the sea. Simply the loss of harpoon symbolizes the loss of power of Santiago amidst the sea and the strength. Much like Santiago without a harpoon, those without faith are defenseless.

Santiago's eyes

                   Though Santiago physically declined as an old man, his eyes stay in the same color without any change. So this eyes symbolizes the unchanged determination of Santiago to achieve his great catching in life. "Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated". Eyes symbolizes hope and optimism.

Santiago

                   In 'The Old Man and the Sea' , Santiago symbolizes the Jesus Christ and the nature of human beings who don't like to accept the defeat in their lives. Through Santiago's suffering and willingness to sacrifice his life, the wounds are suggestive of Christ's stigmata and Hemingway goes on to portray the old man as a Christ-like martyr. As soon as the sharks arrive, Santiago makes a noise one would make "feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood". And also he doesn't like to accept the defeat, because he believes that man has made not for defeating.

Manolin

                  Manolin is a young boy, who follows Santiago. In 'The Old Man and the Sea' Manolin symbolizes the youth of Santiago and the disciples of Jesus. And also he symbolizes the responsibility of youngers on the elders. When the old man would look at Manolin he would see himself at a younger age . Manolin symbolizes the disciples of Jesus.

Joe DiMaggio

                  Santiago considers Joe DiMaggio unbeatable. He symbolizes the indomitable will of the human spirit. DiMaggio, at the time the book was written, suffered from a bone spur, mentioned in the novel. Despite the bone spur, DiMaggio overcame his opponents, much in the same way Santiago overcomes his, despite his injuries.

Other Fishermen

                  All of the other fishermen in the story are the people who used new equipment for fishing while Santiago goes to fish in a small skiff. Hemingway uses these fishermen and the proprietors of the coffee shop of the people who don't like appropriate others.

Marlin

                   Marlin is the ideal opponent of the novel and he symbolizes the last chance that come for the individuals. Here in the novel, Marlin struggles to avoid his death. Death is the ultimate reality of the lives of all beings. The marlin is a symbol for Christ and Communion, the symbolic ritual of The Last Supper. 

Lions

                    Both in his bed in the village and in his boat, Santiago dreams of lions on the beaches of Africa, which he saw when he was a boy on a ship that sailed and finished the coast of Africa. The lion symbolize Santiago's lost youth.

The Sharks

                   Santiago considers the sharks base predators, not worthy of glory. They represent destructive forces in life that serve no purpose.

Biblical Influence

                  Ernest Hemingway's stories have much religious influence and symbolism. In The Old Man and the Sea, by Hemingway, many incidents can be seen similar to the life of Jesus. Santiago is an old man, who has young eyes. Though he defeated, he never show it and he looks only the brighter side of things. These traits make Santiago a god-like figure. Manolin, the term came from "Messiah" is Jesus. After catching the largest marlin, Manolin leaves his parents to follow the teachings of Santiago, his master, just as Jesus. Pedrico is actually Saint Peter , Jesus's closest apostle and a great fisherman. Peter helps Jesus fish for souls as Pedrico helped Manolin and Santiago by giving fish for food. Santiago gives Pedrico the head of the mutilated marlin which symbolizes Saint Peter as head of the Christian church and the first Pope.


Conclusion

                It is obvious that the symbols in the novel can have different interpretations. In The Old Man and the Sea , Hemingway depicts a struggle of an old man to acquire the greatest catching of his life and to protect his achievement from the predators who came to destroy it. It is very important to say that  the writer has used symbols in the novel to give the depth for the themes. Hemingway's symbolism is an essential tool in addressing topics indirectly, in the nineteenth century. Therefore, he used symbolism is an intelligent way to express his believes and his own views on human nature and religion, especially for Christianity. To conclude, Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is full of symbols. The present study has focused more on the major ones an tried to explain their meanings in order to add an extra meaning to the novel.






      































Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aims and objectives of English language teaching

             Introduction " The study of language is the foundation of all other learning. Language defines us as human. To be human is to use language and to talk is to be a person". Language is a medium of communication. English is a powerful vehicle of communication serves as a link language in a multicultural and multilingual society like India and also as a global linguistic mediator. Prof. Jacob Tharu says " English is no longer some remote but a powerful mystery, lying hidden in the world of textbooks in examination ".    Aims of English language teaching     in India In India now English exist as a second language and the aim of teaching English in India is to help students to acquire practical command on English. "Thomson and Wyatt said that Indian students should not only understand English when it is spoken or written but also should be able to speak and write it". Thomson and Wyatt has told the four specific aims of teaching Eng
Read more

Coleridge Fancy and Imagination

          Introduction The Biographia Literaria an autobiography in discourse by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which he published in 1817. It was one of Coleridge's main critical studies. In this work, he discussed the elements of writing. The work is long and seemingly loosely structured, and although there are autobiographical elements, it is not a straightforward autobiography. Although the work is not written from Coleridge's poetic mind it is still written with the qualities and rhythm of the poetic. Through this discussion, he makes many value judgements, leaving his audience with a clear understand of his stance on certain issues. Some of the issues he tackles include politics, religion, social values and human identity. He expresses his own thoughts from a personal viewpoint.            Imagination Imagination in its real sense denotes the working of poetic minds upon external objects or objects visible to the eyes. Imaginative process sometimes adds additional
Read more

W. B. Yeats as a modern poet

                    Introduction William Yeats is often considered to be the 'last romantic' as opposed to being the founding father of modern poetry. Yet one can not simply place Yeats into just one mould, one rigid and defined style of poetry because as a writer during both periods of Romanticism and Modernism, Yeats straddles the line between the two periods and incorporates 'romantic ideologies' into his modern work. His poems seen as the examples of modern liyerature. In his poems, we found astounding variety, political note, realism, religion, mysticism and so on. And all these matters have made him a true modern poet. By nature he was a dreamer, a thinker,who fell under the spell of the folklore and the superstitions of the Irish peasantry. He is a prominent poet in modern times for his sense of moral wholeness of humanity and history.             Elements of Mysticism Yeats may be credited primary with the owner of contributing the elements of myst
Read more