By Abby S.

In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Santiago deals with many different struggles over his four day adventure at sea. This novella portrays an old fisherman whose days are numbered and luck is running out. One day out at sea he finally catches the fish of all fish and Santiago suffers to what may be his death.

Santiago is rapidly becoming old with age but continues to carry on with his passion of fishing amongst the younger men. “He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her.” Hemingway goes on to say that “Some of the younger fisherman, those who used buoys as floats for their line and had motorboats, bought when the shark livers had brought much money, spoke of her as el mar which is masculine.” Santiago realizes that this gender difference in the term amplifies the significant age difference between him and his fellow fishermen, but he will always love the sea no matter what.

The old man is used to leaving early in the morning and coming back that same night. He brings the little food and fresh water he needs for the day. This trip was different, from one day’s small meal he must make it last for an additional three days. As Santiago deals with loss of sleep and famine he never loses his drive to catch the marlin. “He rested for what he believed to be two hours. The moon did not rise now until late and he had no way of judging the time. Nor was he really resting except comparatively.” All basic human survival instincts besides nourishment and rest were ‘thrown to the sea’ as Santiago only thought of catching his great fish.

Powered by the marlin, the fishing line runs through Santiago hands and deeply wounds them affecting their performance. The old man uses no modern fishing tools, but his line and spear, so despite his injury he must keep holding onto the line with no assistance. Santiago contemplated his earlier decision to not take his former apprentice with him on this trip. “ ‘I wish I had the boy,’ the old man said aloud. ‘I’m being towed by a fish and I’m the towing bitt.’” He had dismissed the boy’s earlier suggestion of joining the old man again. The boy was already on a lucky boat and should stay with it claimed Santiago. From time to time, Santiago’s hands would cramp up from the strain of the line. He truly needed another individual to help him reel the fish in.

Internal and external struggles define this novella. From Santiago’s dealings with the lack of nourishment to his hand injury, we can place ourselves in his position and try our hardest to bring the marlin and the old man back to shore. Finally the old man himself deals with his age and how he can see the end coming nearer but still carries on everyday with his profession amongst the newer generation.