The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea

By Ernest HemingwayBy Ernest Hemingway

Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

• Early Years:Early Years:

• Born in Oak Park, Illinois.Born in Oak Park, Illinois.• Was the son of a doctor Was the son of a doctor

and a music teacher.and a music teacher.• At age 18, he volunteered At age 18, he volunteered

as an ambulance driver in as an ambulance driver in Italy during WWI, where he Italy during WWI, where he was badly injured.was badly injured.

• The ReporterThe Reporter

• He started his writing career He started his writing career as a reporter for the Kansas as a reporter for the Kansas City Star.City Star.

• In 1921, he served as a In 1921, he served as a correspondent in Paris for correspondent in Paris for the Toronto Daily Star.the Toronto Daily Star.

• Achieved fame as a Achieved fame as a chronicler of the disaffection chronicler of the disaffection felt by many American youth felt by many American youth after WWI.after WWI.

• In 1936, wrote for Esquire In 1936, wrote for Esquire about a Cuban fisherman.about a Cuban fisherman.

• Covered the Spanish Civil Covered the Spanish Civil War War

Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

• The Adventurer:The Adventurer:

• In Paris in the 1920’s, he fell in In Paris in the 1920’s, he fell in with a group of expatriate with a group of expatriate writers.writers.

• A big game hunter in AfricaA big game hunter in Africa• An avid fisherman in CubaAn avid fisherman in Cuba• A boxer, a bull-fighter and a A boxer, a bull-fighter and a

huge fan of baseball.huge fan of baseball.• Won a Bronze Star in WWII as a Won a Bronze Star in WWII as a

war correspondent in combat.war correspondent in combat.• Flew in small planes to Flew in small planes to

dangerous places; crashed dangerous places; crashed twice.twice.

• Married four women; divorced Married four women; divorced three.three.

• A macho man personifiedA macho man personified

• The Famous Novelist:The Famous Novelist:

• His novels, His novels, The Sun Also RisesThe Sun Also Rises (1926) and (1926) and A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms (1929) established him as a (1929) established him as a dominant literary voice of his dominant literary voice of his time.time.

• Published Published For Whom the BellFor Whom the Bell TollsTolls in 1940. in 1940.

• Won the Pulitzer Prize and the Won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Nobel Prize for The Old ManThe Old Man and the Seaand the Sea in 1953. in 1953.

• Awarded the Medal of Honor Awarded the Medal of Honor by Batista, the former dictator by Batista, the former dictator of Cuba.of Cuba.

Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

• His Later Years:His Later Years:

• Nicknamed himself “Papa” Nicknamed himself “Papa” (had a white grizzly beard (had a white grizzly beard and jolly looking face)and jolly looking face)

• His father committed His father committed suicide.suicide.

• He became very paranoid He became very paranoid and depressed.and depressed.

• In 1961, at age 61, he In 1961, at age 61, he killed himself with a killed himself with a shotgun in Ketchum, Idaho.shotgun in Ketchum, Idaho.

• His Writing Style:His Writing Style:

• Very terseVery terse• He uses a condensed He uses a condensed

sentence structure and sentence structure and simple language.simple language.

• Was revolutionary for his Was revolutionary for his time and was imitated by time and was imitated by generations of young generations of young writers.writers.

Characterization of SantiagoCharacterization of Santiago

• ProtagonistProtagonist• A skilled fisherman who A skilled fisherman who

has a deep respect for has a deep respect for the sea and all of the sea and all of naturenature

• Elderly; very poorElderly; very poor• Confident despite Confident despite

periodic setbacks or periodic setbacks or failuresfailures

• Determined; feels it is Determined; feels it is a sin to lose hopea sin to lose hope

• ProudProud• HumbleHumble

• Idolized Joe DiMaggio Idolized Joe DiMaggio for his return to for his return to baseball despite a baseball despite a battle with bone spursbattle with bone spurs

• Loved baseballLoved baseball• Loved Manolin and Loved Manolin and

taught him how to taught him how to fish; all of his skill, fish; all of his skill, expertise and love of expertise and love of nature will live on nature will live on through the boy.through the boy.

• LonelyLonely• Christ-like (symbol)Christ-like (symbol)

Characterization of ManolinCharacterization of Manolin

• Minor characterMinor character• Truly loves and respects the old manTruly loves and respects the old man• A “nurturer” to SantiagoA “nurturer” to Santiago• Will learn all Santiago has to teach Will learn all Santiago has to teach

him about fishing, the sea, and his him about fishing, the sea, and his respect for nature.respect for nature.

• Will carry on Santiago’s legacy. Will carry on Santiago’s legacy. Through him, Santiago will never die.Through him, Santiago will never die.

Point of ViewPoint of View

• Third Person limited omniscientThird Person limited omniscient• Focuses on Santiago, helping us to understand his Focuses on Santiago, helping us to understand his

character and feel his emotions (uses an introspective character and feel his emotions (uses an introspective Monologue when Santiago is alone on the sea).Monologue when Santiago is alone on the sea).

• Allows the reader to sympathize with Santiago and his Allows the reader to sympathize with Santiago and his plightplight

• The Stream of Consciousness technique is used. The Stream of Consciousness technique is used. (Hemingway has Santiago flashback to various events (Hemingway has Santiago flashback to various events or memories of his life –out of consecutive order, or memories of his life –out of consecutive order, randomly– while he is semi-delirious on the water after randomly– while he is semi-delirious on the water after being out to sea with very little food for a few days.) being out to sea with very little food for a few days.) This helps his plight (or ordeal) seem realistic. It also This helps his plight (or ordeal) seem realistic. It also helps to provide additional background information.helps to provide additional background information.

SettingSetting

• Time Period: Time Period: The Late 1940’sThe Late 1940’s

• The book spans a The book spans a period of 5 daysperiod of 5 days

• Place: Place: --A small fishing --A small fishing village near village near Havana, Cuba in a Havana, Cuba in a shack; shack; --In a boat on the --In a boat on the waters of the Gulf waters of the Gulf of Mexico of Mexico

FlashbacksFlashbacks

• His wrestling match with the El Negro en His wrestling match with the El Negro en Cienfuegos from when he was younger and in Cienfuegos from when he was younger and in his primehis prime

• The pictures of his wife suggesting his past life The pictures of his wife suggesting his past life with herwith her

• The memories of the two marlins that he and The memories of the two marlins that he and Manolin encountered on a previous fishing Manolin encountered on a previous fishing trip.trip.

• He remembers when he fished with Manolin He remembers when he fished with Manolin and would talk to him to prevent becoming and would talk to him to prevent becoming lonelylonely

Roles of Minor CharactersRoles of Minor Characters

• The Marlin:The Marlin:

• Calls the marlin “his brother”; considers it Calls the marlin “his brother”; considers it his equal and a very worthy opponenthis equal and a very worthy opponent

• He has a great deal of respect and He has a great deal of respect and admiration for the marlinadmiration for the marlin

• Although he had a harpoon through his Although he had a harpoon through his heart, he was mighty enough to jump one heart, he was mighty enough to jump one last time to show his power and greatness.last time to show his power and greatness.

Role of Joe DiMaggioRole of Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio:Joe DiMaggio:

*Worshipped by Santiago as a model of strength *Worshipped by Santiago as a model of strength and commitment. (Idol)and commitment. (Idol)

*Santiago’s thoughts turn to him whenever he *Santiago’s thoughts turn to him whenever he needs to reassure himself of his own strength. needs to reassure himself of his own strength. (Inspiration)(Inspiration)

*Despite a painful bone spur that might have *Despite a painful bone spur that might have crippled another player, he went on to secure a crippled another player, he went on to secure a triumphant career in baseball for the NY Yankees.triumphant career in baseball for the NY Yankees.

*He never actually appears in the novel. (Allusion)*He never actually appears in the novel. (Allusion)

MotifsMotifsDefined as: A word or a phrase repeated Defined as: A word or a phrase repeated

throughout a work that takes on meaning through throughout a work that takes on meaning through its repetition.its repetition.

• SufferingSuffering

• Baseball and Joe DiMaggioBaseball and Joe DiMaggio

• Dreams of the lions on the beachDreams of the lions on the beach

• LuckLuck

• Life from deathLife from death

• Crucifixion imageryCrucifixion imagery

Symbolism of SantiagoSymbolism of Santiago

• Santiago = Santiago =

“everyman”“everyman”

• Santiago = Jesus Santiago = Jesus

ChristChrist

• As a result of this, As a result of this, the novella is a the novella is a Christian Allegory.Christian Allegory.

Symbolism of NatureSymbolism of Nature

• Man of War bird (that has no chance) = not Man of War bird (that has no chance) = not admitting failure admitting failure

• Turtles (their hearts continue to beat after death) Turtles (their hearts continue to beat after death) = How Santiago’s heart or spirit is undefeated.= How Santiago’s heart or spirit is undefeated.

• Weary Warbler = threats of impending doom (for Weary Warbler = threats of impending doom (for him…the hawks; for Santiago…the sea and later him…the hawks; for Santiago…the sea and later the sharks)the sharks)

• Mako shark = noble enemy (beautiful, dangerous)Mako shark = noble enemy (beautiful, dangerous)• Shovel-nosed sharks = those who take advantage Shovel-nosed sharks = those who take advantage

of others’ work; exploiters; the destructive forces of others’ work; exploiters; the destructive forces of the universe.of the universe.

Symbolism of the MarlinSymbolism of the Marlin

• Noble and worthy adversary; the Noble and worthy adversary; the ideal opponentideal opponent

• Larger than lifeLarger than life

• Does the unexpectedDoes the unexpected

• Perseveres; does not give upPerseveres; does not give up

• Worthy of Santiago’s effort and Worthy of Santiago’s effort and strengthstrength

Symbolism of the Lions on the Symbolism of the Lions on the BeachBeach

• In the first two dreams, they represent youth (innocence In the first two dreams, they represent youth (innocence and playfulness)and playfulness)

• In the last dream, they represent the circular nature of life. In the last dream, they represent the circular nature of life. (Manolin will fish with Santiago from now on, learning all of (Manolin will fish with Santiago from now on, learning all of his skills, expertise, and love and respect of nature. his skills, expertise, and love and respect of nature. Through Manolin, Santiago’s legacy will live on!)Through Manolin, Santiago’s legacy will live on!)

• Also, because lions are fierce predators, playing, his dream Also, because lions are fierce predators, playing, his dream suggests a harmony between opposing forces such as: life suggests a harmony between opposing forces such as: life and death, love and hate, and the destruction and and death, love and hate, and the destruction and regeneration of nature.regeneration of nature.

Crucifixion Crucifixion Imagery/Symbolism: Imagery/Symbolism:

Santiago as ChristSantiago as Christ• The 40 days w/out a fish represents Jesus’ time The 40 days w/out a fish represents Jesus’ time

wandering in the desert and tempted by Satanwandering in the desert and tempted by Satan• The cuts on Santiago’s handsThe cuts on Santiago’s hands• While carrying the mast home after returning While carrying the mast home after returning

with the carcass of his marlin, he stumbles and with the carcass of his marlin, he stumbles and falls 5 times.falls 5 times.

• When Manolin finds Santiago the next morning, When Manolin finds Santiago the next morning, he is laying face down on his bed with his arms he is laying face down on his bed with his arms spread out, palms up.spread out, palms up.

• Santiago tells Manolin that he will need to rest, Santiago tells Manolin that he will need to rest, but he will be able to fish with him in 3 days. but he will be able to fish with him in 3 days. (This resembles the resurrection: Jesus was (This resembles the resurrection: Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion.)resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion.)

ThemesThemes

• Unity w/NatureUnity w/Nature

• Heroism & Fighting Heroism & Fighting the Good Fightthe Good Fight

• Defeat: “Man is not Defeat: “Man is not made for defeat…A made for defeat…A man can be man can be destroyed but not destroyed but not defeated.”defeated.”

• Success: Material Success: Material v. Inner, Spiritualv. Inner, Spiritual

• Self-Respect/PrideSelf-Respect/Pride

• WorthinessWorthiness

• ManhoodManhood

• Exceeding limitsExceeding limits