Old Man and Sea Notes BA ENglish

NOTES

NOVEL OLD MAN AND SEA

BA PUNJAB UNIVERSITY

FROM

LIAQAT ALI MOHSIN

M PHIL LINGUISTICS MA ENGLISH (PU)               MA ENGLISH LANGUAHE TEACHING (NUML)

LECTURER IN ENGLISH

GOVT. POST GRADUATE COLLEGE SHAKARGARH DISTT. NAROWAL

KBL ACADEMY OF ENGLISH RAILWAY ROAD SHAKARGARH

CELL: 0333-4919297

Character of Sea (Sea as a living character, sea as a symbol of life, Symbol of sea)

                Sea is symbolic in the old man and sea. It is a living character because Santiago finds feelings and emotions in it. It has many roles in the novel.

1.    Sea as life

Sea represents the universe and life in which man finds his ways of existence. It has dual role. It provides the means of livelihood in the form of marlin and takes it through sharks. It is the place for man’s test. Success and defeat are blessed to man at the same time in this sea of life.  “It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers.” 

2.    Sea as source of isolation

It is also a source of isolation. Hemingway’s heroes perform heroic deeds when they are isolated. The sea is its source. Santiago passes most of his time in the sea. 

3.    Consoling the old man

The character of sea is living because it provides the old man consoling in isolation. The sea creatures are the source of entertainment for Santiago. He even talks to them. “Why did they make birds so delicate and fine as those sea swallows when the ocean can be so cruel?”

4.    Source of Naturalism

The sea is a natural and real world in which man fights for his survival. Man recognizes his position in this universe. The character of the Old man is affected by the environment of the sea. This makes the novel naturalistic.

5.    Source of livelihood

Sea is the source of livelihood. Marlin is provided to Santiago by the sea. It is a wishful life for him. Thus the role of the sea is mother like. It nourishes the hero.

6.    Shows Santiago’s character

                 The character of Santiago is exposed through sea. It shows the deep knowledge of the old man about life and sea. The color and depth of his eyes is similar to the sea. “Eyes the Same Color as the Sea” His pride, determination, adventurous nature, strength and knowledge of fishing are reflected through sea.

Character of Manolin (Manolin is not merely disciple, reminding Santiago’s youth, Christian symbolism, Relationship of Manolin and Santiago, )

                "They are good... They play and make jokes and love one another. They are our brothers like the flying fish." (Hemingway)

The character of Manolin is very important in the novel. He is a disciple of the old man in fishing. Their relationship is symbolic. It means that he was more than disciple for Santiago. He loved the old man and implicit belief in his abilities and good luck. He helps and encourages him. “ The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him” His character can be analyzed as the following.

7.    Santiago’s youth

Manolin reminds Santiago his ambitious and excellent youth. He is the source of encouragement in distress. “Now we fish together again.” Though his parents force him to leave Santiago’s boat, yet he continues visiting him. He helps him in baiting and other apparatus. He is thus a paragon of friendship, love and loyalty. 

8.    Shared feelings

Both Manolin and Santiago are likeminded. They share their ideas on optimism and DiMaggio. He is the source of inspiration for them. Both are idealistic.  

9.    True Human Character

The character of Manolin is true humanistic character. He is divided into his loyalties. He had a strong belief in the old man’s abilities but he has to leave his boat at the instructions of his father.

10. Exposition of old man’s character

Through Manolin, Hemingway exposes his character. His belief and praise shows that Santiago is the respected and expert fisherman of his locality. 

11. Spiritual Relationship

Their relationship is not materialistic rather it is spiritual one. Manolin doesn’t consider whether he is in his boat or not. He is the symbol of devotion, loyalty and selflessness. He prefers the old man to his father in the end of the novel.

12. Christian Symbolic Relationship

                 Santiago also symbolizes Jesus Christ and Manolin symbolizes his companions. Though they had strong belief in him, yet they leave him in lurch. "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you."

Style of Hemingway (Language of Hemingway, Aphorism and simple language,  )

                A style is a set of unique features which distinguish him from other writers. He was a modern American writer and belonged to the group of “Lost Generation”. He uses the features of naturalistic movement in his writing. He uses first person narration in his novel. The religious imagery is common in his writing.

Hemingway was a journalist and he uses simple and short sentences. He only focuses apparent meanings and doesn’t explain themes. His writing becomes clear and understandable. His word choice makes his pictures real and alive. He uses repetition of words and phrases to stress his themes. His sentences are declarative. “But man is not made for defeat". "A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

His description of all the events is real life like. It doesn’t seem a fiction. The knowledge for sea, fishing and Cuban coasts is real one. He has showed his own life struggle against difficult circumstances. Hemingway says, “I tried to make a real old man, a real sea and real sharks.”

There is a lot of use of symbols in his writing especially old man and sea.  These symbols are sea, marlin, sharks, mandolin, dreams, hand match, lions, DiMaggio, Mary’s picture and cross.  This makes his writing multidimensional. Man’s dignity is the central theme in his writing. He believes in human success and victory.

Hemingway is also considered a master of dialogue. The dramatic techniques are taken from everyday life. His style is characterized by simplicity, directness, clarity, freshness and naturalness. His observations are very strong. Edwin Muir says, “Hemingway’s power of observation is so exact that it has an effect of imagination”

Old Man and Sea (Fight with Sharks, Sharks as a symbol of punishment, Old man as a tragic hero, What was his character flaw,)

                The sharks are very significant in the novel because they represent the hostile nature. In man’s life, nature supports and restricts his efforts at the same time. The sharks are also the symbol of punishment when the old man commits mistake. The old man is a tragic hero who fights for his survival. On the eighty fifth day, he hooks a big marlin. He goes too far into the sea on the day. “Nothing . . . I went out too far.” But he commits a hamartia of injuring the marlin and going very deep into the sea. He stabs the marlin and makes the blood ooze out. It invites the sharks.

                The sharks are also test of Santiago’s patience and determination. He fights against them until his end. He tries his best to save marlin but to no avail.

Their attack is very severe and they take the whole flesh of the marlin. Only the skeleton of marlin remains. First attack is of a mako shark. Its teeth are like human fingers. It takes forty pounds of flesh. Santiago attacks with his harpoon but the shark takes it with the rope. He repeats that “a man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

The second attack is done by two shovel-nosed sharks. Santiago fights with his knife bound with an oar. He kills both of them but they eat one quarter of the fish. Now, he realizes his mistake of injuring the marlin and going very deep into the sea.

Then another shark attacks. It takes the knife of the old man. His fight doesn’t end here. It is the test of his resolutions. Two sharks attack before night fall. He fights with his club. Only half marlin remains. At midnight, a pack of sharks attacks. One of them takes his club. He fights with the tiller of the boat. He never yields before them. This time he couldn’t stop the sharks from taking the whole flesh of the marlin. “He hit [the shark] without hope but with resolution.”

CHARACTER OF MARLIN (Marlin as a wishful life, found meaning in existence during fight with marlin, Fight with marlin to very end without being despaired, marlin as a Symbol of hardship, Santiago’s attitude towards marlin, Fish is a living character with intentions and contention, Fish as symbol of ideal life, Why does he feels that fish was killing, Fish, I shall stay with you until I am dead, Role of skill in his fight )

Marlin is the symbol of livelihood and challenge of life. It is a wishful life for Santiago. He says, “My big fish must be somewhere.” The fish is the symbol of hope which drives man’s life. It is a means to exist. The fight with marlin is the attempt to survive. He is determined to fight against it until his end because his failure is the end of life. It is the test of old man’s bravery and determination. It brings out his strength, courage, love and respect.

The fish is the symbol of hardships in the sea of life. Man has to fight against it. Life goes on changing. Ups and downs go side by side. But man doesn’t get afraid of difficulties. He has to be determined. Santiago’s struggle against marlin is symbolic. “Fish, I'll stay with you until I am dead.” He doesn’t lose hope. Though he is week, yet he is determined. He is never despaired in his fight against marlin. “It's silly not to hope. It's a sin.”

Old man’s attitude is very natural against the fish and considers it his friend. It symbolizes an ideal life. After getting it, he would be happy, prosperous and rich. “Fish , "I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends.” The marlin is a living character. It shows emotions and feelings. The old man understands her movements as he is a skillful fisherman.

 He goes deep into the sea. He puts bait one hundred fathom deep and hooks a big marlin. He is unable to pull it and goes with the fish. The old man bears the strain of the line with his shoulders, back, and hands to give slack to it. This continues for three days. The old man gets his hands wounded with the cord. He makes the fish tired on third day. He wounds it with harpoon and binds it with his skiff.

SYMBOLISM IN OLD MAN AND SEA

Symbolism is a literary technique. It means that something stands for some idea or quality. The old man and sea is full of symbols. It increases the scope of themes and thoughts of the reader. The symbols used in the poem are lions, dreams, DiMaggio, Manolin, marlin, sharks, hand match, Santiago, sea, sleep and imaginations.

Marlin is the symbol of livelihood and challenge of life. It is a wishful life for Santiago. He is determined to fight against it until his end. It is the test of old man’s bravery and determination.

The dream of lions is the symbol of courage and bravery. It also reflects the excellent youth of the old man. It gives him strong impulse to continue his fight. Even at the end, the old man starts dreaming again. He starts his wishful life again after apparent defeat.

The memory of hand match with a Negro is also a symbol of youth. It encourages him.

DiMaggio is an American baseball champion. He gives the old man courage to win in spite of physical problems. Santiago dreams him at the day time and night.

Sea is the symbol of life. Ups and downs go side by side in this life. Whereas sea gives food and means of livelihood, it is also destructive and challenging. It takes the goal of old man away. It gives success and defeat at the same time.

Sharks are the symbol of hostile nature against man. They are also punishment for the old man for his mistake. He wounds the marlin. It invites the sharks. They also represent endless fight against difficult circumstances.

The character of Santiago, Manolin and ending sleep of the old man have the Christian symbols of Jesus Christ, gospels of Christ and Crucifixion of Christ respectively.

Ending of the Novel ( 1. Ending…2. View of the other people about end.. 3. Defeat or success of old man …4. Novel is triumph or defeat…5. Christian symbol in the end…6. Significance of Santiago’s sleep…7. Justify end

The end of the novel is very ambiguous but happy. It has many shades of interpretations. It is defeat and triumph at the same time. After a heavy fight with sharks, the old man reaches his hut. He sleeps with his arms across like Jesus Christ. The end resembles Christ’s position on the cross. His goal is snatched by the sharks.

All his efforts ended in smoke. Only skeleton of the fish remains. He fails apparently like Jesus Christ. So, many critics believe that the ending is not justified. But success is of two types. Outer success is material while inner success is spiritual. The fight of the old man is heroic. The author wants to show that human life doesn’t depend on success or failure. Its greatness lies in constant struggle and strong will power. The heroes of Hemingway are stoic. They don’t consider their feelings and emotions and fight for human dignity.

The old man loses his battle but never loses his heart. The ending is natural and realistic. At the end of the story he mentions, "A man is not made for defeat...a man can be destroyed but not defeated." The novel finishes with this symbolic sentence: "The old man was dreaming about lions." The change to dreams is very significant. It shows that he returns to a wishful life again. His life doesn’t end with apparent defeat. The other fishermen start to believe that Santiago has caught a shark due to great size of skeleton of the marlin.

Santiago also reunites with Manolin. His remarks of “Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive” in the end shows his philosophy. It shows the tension that exists between loss and gain, triumph and defeat, life and death. This vision of heroism is Sisyphean.

Character of Santiago (1. Heroic Spirit of old man…2. Man can be destroyed but can’t be defeated..3. Fish, he said softly aloud, I will stay with you until I am dead…4. Fight against marlin without being despaired…5.Criticism of fellow fishermen…6. Old man finds meanings in existence during fight with marlin…7. Every day is new day…8. Santiago as an optimist…9. Representative of humanity)

Santiago is the central character of the novel. The whole plot revolves around him. He has heroic spirit because he never loses his hope. “It's silly not to hope. It's a sin.” He is optimistic even in adversaries. He neither complains nor gives up his struggle. He remains fishless for eighty four days. He doesn’t quit his efforts. He goes with a new zeal every day.

 “Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. He faces many problems but he remains determined, courageous, strong and undefeated. He remains isolated and detached from the society. The other fishermen call him salao. They laugh at him owing to his misfortune. Even his disciple leaves him in isolation. But he remains optimist. He believes in human dignity and good luck. He thinks that “Luck is a thing that comes in many forms”

His spirits are high even on eighty-fifth day. He considers that “Eighty-five is a lucky number” He goes very deep into the sea. He hooks a big marlin which has an unusual size. He has becomes old. He is unable to control marlin. He feels utter loneliness. He wants the company of Manolin. In spite of his isolation and physical weakness, he continues his fight with marlin.

He asserts his philosophy of life. “But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated. ” The fight with marlin is his struggle for his existence. It is the challenge for man’s survival. To encourage him, he talks to the marlin. “Fish, I'll stay with you until I am dead.” He is determined to kill it. “Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends.”

Loneliness in Old Man and Sea (Themes of loneliness, How does he fight with his loneliness? Loneliness of old man)

“And the night can be a dreadful time for lonely people once their loneliness has started.”        Hemingway: A farewell to arms

The old man feels loneliness. Mostly he remains isolated from the whole community. He has no interaction with others except Manolin. He is a lonely man surrounded by the dangers and problems He desires to have company especially in his old age. After forty five unlucky days, Manolin leaves him. His isolation becomes adverse.

He is considered unlucky in his community. He feels much lonely when he looks at his wife’s picture. The mocking of other fishermen also shows alienation. It is a typical characteristic of Hemingway’s heroes. They get achievement in their isolation. Old man is as alone as Henry in farewell to arms.

Santiago was sad in his loneliness when the marlin was pulling his boat. He wants someone to help him. It contributes to his apparent defeat. “No one should be alone in their old age, he thought.” His isolation develops when he is in the sea. He fights against his loneliness with different ways. He calls the sea creature his companion. He was happier when he saw a bird, the flying fish, hawks, green turtles, large number of dolphins and then wild ducks flying against the sky. “Why did they make birds so delicate and fine as those sea swallows when the ocean can be so cruel?”

Secondly he remembers the boy and the baseball matches to get over his loneliness. He remembers DiMaggio to console him in his isolation. He encourages him with his dreaming of the lions playing together. Thirdly, he talks with the marlin like a friend. “Fish," he said, "I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends. Santiago speaking to him symbolizes his loneliness and isolation.

Themes in Old Man and Sea

Theme is a central and repeated idea conceived by the reader.

There are many themes in the novel.

1.    Human Dignity

Old man and Sea is an account of human struggle against odds. Santiago represents humanity in general. He doesn’t find fish for eighty four days. Other fishermen laugh at him. He fights against marlin and sharks. He never loses hope. He remains determined and resolute. He says, “But man is not made for defeat,” he said. “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

2.    Man and Nature

Santiago’s fight is man’s fight against hostile nature. Sea is a symbol of life in which man has to face challenges. Marlin is wishful life and difficult circumstances. Sharks are the symbol of punishment and hostility of nature. “I killed him in self-defense,” the old man said aloud. “And I killed him well.” 

3.    Christian Allegory

Old man’s life resembles Christ’s life. He bores pains and difficulties in his life. But he defeats apparently. But his success lies in his struggle rather material or worldly gain. The last sleep of the old man is similar to Christ on cross. “He slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and the palms of his hands up.”

4.    Friendship

The friendship between Santiago and Manolin is very deep. It can be symbol of Christian Allegory. Christ had also his gospels. They are more than disciple and teacher. Manolin love him and stands by him through thick and thin. The novel ends with their union after a temporary separation. He is reflection of his youth and source of inspiration.

5.    Isolation

Man is alone in this universe especially fighting against adversaries. No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. He gets the company of sea creatures and call the fish his brother. 

6.    Youth and Old Age

Man life goes on changing. In old age, man becomes nostalgic. It inspires and encourages him. Santiago’s memories and dreams are inspiring.

7.     Pride as a source of determination

Old man’s pride in human dignity, himself and his abilities is another theme. His pride brings courage and determination. 

HAND MATCH WITH NEGRO (Hand match with a Negro, Role of Past memories, Role of dreams)

As the sun set he remembered, to give himself more confidence. (Hemingway)

On the eighty fifth day, Old man hooks a great marlin. He fights against it two days and two nights. During his fight, he remembers his past memories of youth. He also dreams of lions playing at African coasts, other coasts, storms, his village and school of porpoises. His dreams are related to his past memories.

His changing dreams reflect his changing life. He remembers his past. They are very important because they encourage him in difficult time and in fight against marlin and sharks. He gets power, courage and determination with his dreams and past memories.

He remembers his hand game with a Negro. The memory of hand game is very significant for Santiago. It encourages him in his fight against marlin in the old age. He played hand match with a great Negro who was the strongest man on the docks.

They continued their fight for one day and one night. Their elbows stayed at the table. The people around him were betting. The competition was so long that referees changed after every four hour. Blood came from the fingernail of both of them.

Santiago was looking in Negro’s eye. It was a test of his mettle. Negro was given rum and cigarette to have fight with full zeal. But Santiago believed in his strength. Once the hand of Santiago was three inches off the balance but he used his force and brought Negro’s hand down. He defeated Negro who was fine man and a great athlete. This match started on Sunday morning and ended on Monday morning. The old man was called champion for a long time. There was another match held later on but he won it easily. “He had broken the confidence of the negro”