By Emily B.

Hemingway tells a story about a labor worn man named Santiago with a deep love of the sea. Santiago decides to venture back into the depths to discover his true purpose in life was to always be a fisherman. He endures many mental and physical struggles throughout his journey to achieve greatness. Not only does he face challenges most could never even imagine, but also handles them with extreme courage and strength. He never lets the conflict break him down.

One of the many struggles Santiago is forced to battle with is his pride. He has every right to be held in highest regard, but he carries himself away with the metaphorical and literal conflicts his pride places him in. “…Christ, I did not know (the marlin) was so big. I’ll kill him though. In all his greatness and his glory”(66). Although he is one of the best, he is almost unaware that he could tragically fail his mission, which could possibly lead him to the ending of his heroic tale. He is no longer the young chipper fisherman as he once was. He is now a very late gentleman who has years of experience but whose strength is slowly drifting. The realization of this struggle surely hits him when he endures the physical battle between himself and the marlin, which is a very worthy opponent, and deals no mercy.

Among the fight to achieve his goal comes a battle of mental and physical strength between man and marlin. When Santiago is put up against the marlin’s will to escape his fate, he is tested with strenuous struggles and an enormous battle of wits. On the physical side of the battle, the marlin will fight long and hard to break free, but Santiago will do whatever possible to make sure the marlin does not prevail. He begins to realize the fish’s extraordinary strength when he says aloud, “If you’re not tired fish, you must be very strange” (67). Being of age, he has faded in his physical ability. Not completely, but to the point in which he begins to suffer great fatigue and pain. However he never lets up, he never surrenders to the fish.

Secondary to the physical battle came the mental battle with the marlin. He wants to bring this prize back to shore to prove he is not of bad luck, he had the power to achieve anything, and he deserves his gift of being a true fisherman. “Keep my head clear. I have killed this fish which is my brother and now I must do the slave work” (95). Santiago says this after he had won the physical battle and the realization finally hits him. He has overcome, but has still only made it half way. Now, he must do everything possible to protect this prize and get it back home one way or another. He needs to oversee his pride and physical tire and keep a clear mind, being completely aware of anything that could put all of his hard work away.

In conclusion, Santiago battles all extremities to become many things, and never gives up when faced with physical and mental struggles. He discovers his true purpose in life was to be nothing more than or less than a great fisherman. He endures life-threatening conditions just to prove something, not only to his village, but also to himself. His love for the wondrous yet cruel ocean fuels his optimism and determination to press on. The morality of this story is self-awareness. If you have a true passion, and belief within yourself, you can achieve anything you set yourself to. It will almost never be easy, but the results will be worthwhile.