10:30 AM
Mr. B-G
The Old Man and the Sea is a novella written by Ernest Hemingway. This is about an old man Santiago fighting for his life to catch an 18 foot marlin. Along his journey he faces many physical and mental challenges. He realizes that without the help of his good friend that he can’t be a successful fisherman. He also is starting to doubt himself, and he knows he is not as good of a fisherman as he used to be. He also has to fight through many injuries during his time on the ocean.
During his long time out on the ocean alone he realizes that he can’t be successful without the help of his friend Manolin. The boy not only helps him with the physical problems but also he gives Santiago someone to talk to and keep busy with his time out on the ocean. Santiago repeats “I wish the boy were here,” {56} Many times during his journey. I think this shows how he knows he needs help and he can’t rely on his fishing abilities without the help of his good friend Manolin. It would also help him with the social problems out on the ocean.
The old man’s stamina becomes a huge factor while he is on the ocean for three days without much food, but he shows great perseverance as he stays with it and continues to fight the fish. “I’ll stay with you until I am dead.”{52}. I think this quote demonstrates how Santiago is willing to die in order to catch the marlin. I think this is part of the mental challenges Santiago goes through. He knows that the fish is wearing him down but he thinks he can outlast the fish. Santiago’s hand betrays him while he is battling the fish. “What kind of hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.”{58}Over the course of his journey he faces many injuries, but the most substantial one is his hand. It is cramping up badly and he is forcing himself to stay with the marlin and he knows he won’t let his hand get in the way of catching the fish. This is the biggest physical challenge he faces on the sea. Another quote that supports this challenge is “Come on hand. Please come on.”{62}
Anther physical challenge, but is also a mental challenge is when the sharks come and attack the marlin. “If sharks come, god pity him and me.”{68} I think this shows how Santiago is finally beat physically in his journey on the sea, but mentally he still thinks he wins. The sharks pose a very difficult task to the old man. He has to fight off multiple sharks in order to reel in the competition. I think that this is a mental issue because he knows that if the sharks eat away at the fish then he is defeated.
I think that even though Santiago was hurt and he didn’t catch the fish in the end, he still thinks that he beat the fish and won the overall war. He didn’t gain anything from this fishing trip, but his dignity. He fights through his injuries to accomplish what he set out to do.
During his long time out on the ocean alone he realizes that he can’t be successful without the help of his friend Manolin. The boy not only helps him with the physical problems but also he gives Santiago someone to talk to and keep busy with his time out on the ocean. Santiago repeats “I wish the boy were here,” {56} Many times during his journey. I think this shows how he knows he needs help and he can’t rely on his fishing abilities without the help of his good friend Manolin. It would also help him with the social problems out on the ocean.
The old man’s stamina becomes a huge factor while he is on the ocean for three days without much food, but he shows great perseverance as he stays with it and continues to fight the fish. “I’ll stay with you until I am dead.”{52}. I think this quote demonstrates how Santiago is willing to die in order to catch the marlin. I think this is part of the mental challenges Santiago goes through. He knows that the fish is wearing him down but he thinks he can outlast the fish. Santiago’s hand betrays him while he is battling the fish. “What kind of hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.”{58}Over the course of his journey he faces many injuries, but the most substantial one is his hand. It is cramping up badly and he is forcing himself to stay with the marlin and he knows he won’t let his hand get in the way of catching the fish. This is the biggest physical challenge he faces on the sea. Another quote that supports this challenge is “Come on hand. Please come on.”{62}
Anther physical challenge, but is also a mental challenge is when the sharks come and attack the marlin. “If sharks come, god pity him and me.”{68} I think this shows how Santiago is finally beat physically in his journey on the sea, but mentally he still thinks he wins. The sharks pose a very difficult task to the old man. He has to fight off multiple sharks in order to reel in the competition. I think that this is a mental issue because he knows that if the sharks eat away at the fish then he is defeated.
I think that even though Santiago was hurt and he didn’t catch the fish in the end, he still thinks that he beat the fish and won the overall war. He didn’t gain anything from this fishing trip, but his dignity. He fights through his injuries to accomplish what he set out to do.
2 comments:
Well dan i like this story. You really explained everything well and had a good thesis. My favorite quote is the one about how he wishes the boy was there. This is because it is really true and it wouldnt be a great story like this if the boy had come. You explain details really well and use many quotes to back up your explanations which is good. I think its a good story and dont really have any advice for you so good story.
Dan, the thesis was good but and i knew what you were talking about. “What kind of hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.” This quote was followed by and explaination of what is happening to the old mans hand. The quote tells me how Santiago is feeling.
One thing the essay does well is it explains all that is needed to be explained. Any advice that i have is to continue writting like this in other essays.
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