First published in 1952, Ernest Hemingway's classic short story "The
Old Man and the Sea" concerns Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, who
ventures far out into the Gulf Stream and hooks the biggest marlin ever
caught in those waters. Then, alone and exhausted by his struggle to
harpoon the great fish, he is forced into a losing battle with swarms of
sharks that in the end leave him nothing but the skeleton of his once-in-a-
lifetime catch. Thus, "The Old Man and the Sea" symbolizes the eternal
struggles of man who often becomes the victor when faced with overwhelming
As the main protagonist, Santiago is definitely a very dynamic
character which is supported by his on-going battle with not only the giant
marlin but also with nature herself. His great desire to capture and bring
to his village the carcass of the marlin illustrates his determination and
perseverance as a fisherman while also revealing the inner workings of his
personality. These traits are obvious in one particular scene in which he
ties his knife to the end of an oar and uses it as a weapon against the
sharks even though his hands are raw and bloody.
"The Old Man and the Sea" is also a great example of literary
characterization, for Hemingway instilled many of the traits usually
associated with strong and determined men into Santiago. Morally, Santiago
obviously felt pity for the giant marlin while at the same time wanting to
bolster his ego by capturing it. Santiago was also very self-assured, for
he stayed in his boat for many days while battling the sharks and his
fatigue despite knowing that nature would win in the end. And lastly,
Santiago's deep emotional attachment to the marlin demonstrates his
faithfulness to himself and to those left behind in his village that later
stand in awe while gazing at the skeleton of the giant marlin still
...