Resistance to Defeat: Santiago never gives into defeat, even when he struggles with the marlin. He turns to a number of tactics to fuel his resistance to defeat. Santiago relies on his pride and is a worthy role model to Manolin.
Victory over the inevitable is not what defines a man. It is a man’s struggle against the inevitable. The more difficult the struggle, the more worthy the opponent, the more powerfully a man can prove himself.
Pride: Santiago’s motivation shoots him to greatness. His pride pushes him to survive three days at sea. His pride never pushes him to try and be more than he is.
Santiago takes pride in being exactly what he is, a man and a fisherman. “What a man can do and what a man endures.” Santiago achieves the crucial balance between pride and humility.
Friendship: The friendship between Santiago and Manolin is a give and take; both provide some type of support for one another. Manolin provides physical support by bringing Santiago food and clothes and helping him prepare for a day of fishing. Santiago provides emotional support by going on even when the odds are against him.
Throughout the book, Santiago is alone. His wife is gone and he lives and fishes alone. Yet, he refuses to give into isolation. He talks to himself and makes friends with nature that surrounds him.
Friendships help prevent Santiago from pitying himself. He has the support to achieve what seems physically impossible.
Youth and Age: What one character lacks, the other provides. Manolin has energy and enthusiasm. Santiago has wisdom and experience.
Santiago’s determination is to be a good role model for Manolin- he wants to show Manolin what a man can do.
Without his weakness his triumph would not be so meaningful to him. Santiago finds solace and strength in remembering his youth. Although Santiago appears to be slow, he can still be a contender.
Man and Nature: The novella describes man’s relationship with nature. Santiago makes friends with animals, he feels like the marlin is his brother. He has admiration towards the marlin; the law of nature unites the man and animal. All beings must die, must kill or be killed. Man and nature are joined, in which death is necessary and fosters new life.
Christian Allegory: Santiago emerges as a Christ figure. His injured hands recall Christ’s stigmata (nails on his hands and feet).
Santiago resembles Christ in how he transforms loss into triumph, faces the inevitability of death without complaint.
Victory over the inevitable is not what defines a man. It is a man’s struggle against the inevitable. The more difficult the struggle, the more worthy the opponent, the more powerfully a man can prove himself.
Pride: Santiago’s motivation shoots him to greatness. His pride pushes him to survive three days at sea. His pride never pushes him to try and be more than he is.
Santiago takes pride in being exactly what he is, a man and a fisherman. “What a man can do and what a man endures.” Santiago achieves the crucial balance between pride and humility.
Friendship: The friendship between Santiago and Manolin is a give and take; both provide some type of support for one another. Manolin provides physical support by bringing Santiago food and clothes and helping him prepare for a day of fishing. Santiago provides emotional support by going on even when the odds are against him.
Throughout the book, Santiago is alone. His wife is gone and he lives and fishes alone. Yet, he refuses to give into isolation. He talks to himself and makes friends with nature that surrounds him.
Friendships help prevent Santiago from pitying himself. He has the support to achieve what seems physically impossible.
Youth and Age: What one character lacks, the other provides. Manolin has energy and enthusiasm. Santiago has wisdom and experience.
Santiago’s determination is to be a good role model for Manolin- he wants to show Manolin what a man can do.
Without his weakness his triumph would not be so meaningful to him. Santiago finds solace and strength in remembering his youth. Although Santiago appears to be slow, he can still be a contender.
Man and Nature: The novella describes man’s relationship with nature. Santiago makes friends with animals, he feels like the marlin is his brother. He has admiration towards the marlin; the law of nature unites the man and animal. All beings must die, must kill or be killed. Man and nature are joined, in which death is necessary and fosters new life.
Christian Allegory: Santiago emerges as a Christ figure. His injured hands recall Christ’s stigmata (nails on his hands and feet).
Santiago resembles Christ in how he transforms loss into triumph, faces the inevitability of death without complaint.