Honors 9 Notes: "Old Man and the Sea"

The Old Man and the Sea

Characters:

Santiago (Experienced, advanced age. He has reached the end of his life. He is a good fisherman. Despite his experience and skill, people look down on him. He lives in poverty and is “unlucky”. What does he have to prove? [He’s still a man. He knows what is important. He is in complete control of himself.] Is it to other people or himself? Hemingway states that Santiago many of the other fishermen made fun of him and he was not angry [p. 10]. It appears that Santiago doesn't care what others think.)

Manolin (His protege -- a boy on the verge of becoming a man. Used to fish with Santiago, but his father made him stop. Does he still have anything to learn from Santiago?)

Marlin (He is old too. We can presume he is alone. The story about the marlin whose mate was killed suggests that this marlin doesn’t have a mate. He is like the old man in this way. For a fish, he is intelligent and determined.)

Tourists (The exact opposite of Santiago. They don’t understand his way of life or the struggle that Santiago has just been through. They don’t even know what kind of fish he has caught. They are living a lifestyle that allows for frivolous things. Santiago is concerned with survival. Tourists represent an outside perspective. There’s a little dramatic irony here -- they don't understand and know the things the reader knows.)

Other fishermen (They make fun of Santiago. They don’t possess his humility and kindness. The fact that he is not angry makes him Christ-like. At the end, they can appreciate Santiago’s ordeal but can’t really understand it.)

Plot:

External Conflict = Will Santiago catch his fish? [Hu]man vs. nature. Negative resolution in that he loses his catch.

Internal Conflict = Will Santiago give up? Is his will strong enough? [Hu]man vs. self. Positive resolution in that he never gives up.

Climax: The moment where the internal conflict resolution becomes inevitable. If the internal conflict is “will he give up?”, then the climax is the moment where it appears he might be defeated (p. 120)

Relationships:

Santiago and Manolin (father/son or master/protege or Christ/disciple)

Santiago and the Marlin (They are nearly equals; the marlin is a worthy opponent. Santiago respects the Marlin but determines that he must kill it.)

Santiago and Nature/the Sea (Santiago respects nature and the sea as he does the marlin. While other men liken the sea to a man, Santiago thinks of it as a woman who gives and takes.)

Allusion: to Christ, last supper (Are they worthy of him (the fish)? Santiago carries his mast, his hands are wounded, he lies on the bed with his arms spread, he tells Manolin “I know you did not leave me because you doubted.”)

Allegory (A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.)

Point of view: Third person omnipotent/limited. This book uses both.

Theme: A comes back to A, but is no longer A.

What changes? Manolin. The old man has not changed, he has merely “gone out too far”. “You can be destroyed, but not defeated.” Santiago hasn’t been defeated. Manolin’s view of Santiago changes and he sees that Santiago can teach him to be a man.

What makes the change happen? Santiago shows Manolin what it means to be a man. He displays his grit, fortitude, and mastery of self by catching the fish. Santiago never gives up.

Why does the author have it change this way? To arrive at the theme. The theme is to never give up.

Main theme: Never give up!

Symbolism: Symbolism creates layers of meaning. It can support or strengthen an author’s message. Often, a symbolic meaning underscores a literal elements of a story. We can identify symbols in literature by examining context, or the events or circumstances in which something occurs. We can also draw on knowledge of cultural and universal symbols. We can also look at how the author describes the symbol. One thing can represent multiple ideas.

Sail (Flag of permanent defeat.)

Manolin (His protege or disciple. Youth, inexperience, boyhood.)

Joe DiMaggio (Santiago’s hero. He has a lot of the qualities Santiago most values in himself.)

Lions (Youth and pride.)

Birds (The birds are out of place so far from shore. They are somewhere they don’t belong.)

Sea (Isolation or the unknown.)

Santiago (Compared to Christ. Of humble status, as Christ was. They both have incredible fortitude. Allusions include carrying his mast, the wounds on his hands, etc.)

Marlin (The restoration of honor or redemption. The honor that Santiago has lost. Internal strength or bravery.)

Santiago’s choice to go far out (His ate. Man’s grasp must exceed his bounds. Human nature.)

The cramp in his left hand (Mind over matter. Santiago’s mastery of his cramp demonstrates his mastery over his body.)

Christ (Compared to Santiago. Santiago/James was also the disciple who was a fisherman. Then he became a "fisher of men".)

Arm wrestling (Outward manifestation of internal strength. Shows that Santiago has always been able to attain mastery over himself and his state of being. Despite this, everyone dies, no matter their fortitude.)

Sharks (Unworthy opponents, they do not possess the self control of Santiago and the Marlin. Baser impulses. They are greedy and impulse-driven.)

Tourists (Outside perspective. They are ignorant of the struggle Santiago has just been through. Complacency.)

Eyes (Cheerful and undefeated. They are blue like the sea. The only part of Santiago that is not old. Human spirit. Fighting spirit.)

Setting sun (Death.)

Pain (It’s how we know we are alive.)

Age (Everything passes. Life and everything in it are transient.)

Main ideas:

Everything passes. Everything in life is transient. If nothing lasts, then what is the point? Our relationships and what we can pass on. Santiago will teach Manolin to fish, but also how to be a man. He will teach him to never give up. Santiago can pass on ideas. These are the things that survive.

Why do you think Hemingway chose to make his hero a poor fisherman? (Elevating the common man to heroic status. Christ was a common man, too. Anyone can be a hero.)

Does Santiago follow the Homeric pattern? Arete, Hubris, Ate, (Anagnorisis), Nemesis

Is he a tragic hero?

Hamartia – a tragic flaw that causes the downfall of a hero.
Hubris – excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order of things.
Peripeteia – The reversal of fate that the hero experiences.
Anagnorisis – a moment in time when hero makes an important discovery in the story.
Nemesis – a punishment that the protagonist cannot avoid, usually occurring as a result of his hubris.

“The Old Man and the Sea” Questions for Review:

How would you describe Santiago? What are his major characteristics?

As the story begins, how do we feel about Santiago? What emotions are evoked by Hemingway’s descriptions of Santiago?

What are Manolin’s feelings toward Santiago? How would you describe their relationship?

How does Manolin view Santiago?

In the first paragraph, Santiago is described as unlucky. What role does luck have in the story?

Do you notice any allusions (particularly religious allusions) in the narrative?

How does Santiago live? Explain.

What is the purpose of Santiago and Manolin’s discussion of baseball? Why do you think they say, for instance, the White Sox of Chicago? What is odd about their obsession with baseball? p. 17

Who is Joe DiMaggio? Why does Santiago idolize him?

What untruths do Santiago and Manolin tell each other? What do they reveal? p. 16

What are Santiago’s memories of Africa?

Read the passage that describes Santiago’s dreams on p. 25-26. What is significant about it? Why do you think he dreams of these things?

Describe Santiago’s relationship with the sea. p. 28-30

Why must Santiago hold the fishing line the entire time?

How does he plan on navigating when he returns to shore?

“I wish I could see him only once to know what I have against me.” Santiago can’t see the fish, and will not see it for quite some time. What does this add to the story?

Read p. 48. Santiago again expresses that he wishes the boy were with him. “I wish I had the boy. To help me and to see this.” What does he mean, “to see this”? Why?

Look closely at the passage on p. 48 beginning, “Then he began to pity the great fish that he had hooked.” Read all the way through the second paragraph of p. 50. What are Santiago’s feelings about the fish and why does he feel this way?

Has Santiago gone too far? Has he taken on too much? What might indicate that he has?

In the first paragraph of p. 51, Santiago cuts his other lines. Why is this important?

Read pp. 52-54. We see that Santiago has resolved that he will kill the fish. What is sustaining this resolve? In other words, where is he getting his strength?

Why does Santiago talk to his hand? What does this suggest? (p. 58)

Why is a cramp “treachery of one’s own body”? Why the word treachery again?

Santiago finally sees the fish on p. 62. Why do you think Hemingway waits so long to reveal him?

On p. 63, Santiago thinks, “thank God they are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able.” Why does he think this? Is Santiago’s respect for the animals he kills an important part of his character?

On p. 69-70, there is a flashback to an arm wrestling match in Casablanca. Where is Casablanca and when did this happen?

Relate the arm wrestling match to the current battle between Santiago and the fish. Are there parallels?

How does Santiago kill the fish?

How does he transport it back to shore?

How does the way Manolin views the old man change at the end?

Why was the perspective of the tourists included at the end?