By John H.

The old man and the sea were written by Ernest Hemingway. Most people take for granted the food they eat. People like the old Man and the sea struggle with the ocean everyday. In the story there were many external conflicts. One of them was the external struggle between the old man and the marlin. Through the battle the old man has a constant conflict not only with his age, but his unprepared ness, and with no help.

When the old man went out to the sea on that faithful day he was unprepared. He had very primitive methods of catching fish. When he had the line the fish tugged. He did not have a rod and the thin string cut his hand. He had that constant cutting for three long days. Not only the cutting but he had to deal with malnutrition. He had nothing to eat for those three days. He was all by himself while he was out on the sea. He wasn’t the fisherman he used to be. Without his young companion the fight with the fish was much more difficulties thing that is trying at his will is his mal nutrition. This was another sign of his unprepared ness. He had not brought any food with him on the sea. Not knowing the battle ahead of him he goes to the sea without food. When he was battling with the fish he did not expect it to last three days. Battling for three days left him fatigued and very hungry. That's what was of the things that drove him to finally catch the marlin.

Unlike the other two conflicts he had with the Battle this something that he could not prevent. His age was a very large factor on the battle between the Marlin. He’s not the fisher man he used to be so when he fought for those three days they were probably the hardest thing he's ever done in his life. That is why he said this, because he has lived a long life and sees the fish as an equal. His age also could be the reason for the such long fight. His age is what made the fish so hard to catch. His age was also the thing that left him and tired much quick than it would if he was younger. Also when he finally reeled the fish in his fatigue and age proved to get the best of him. The fish was eaten to the bone despite his best efforts.

While at sea the old man was without any help and all by himself. His 84 day long fish less streak had left him without a companion. The young boy that previously fished with the old man was now not allowed to go on that boat because it was considered unlucky. Losing the boy on his ship at first seemed to be an inconvenience, but would prove to be much more. While at sea the boy could have been a vital key to catch the fish. When the old man was struggling with the line the boy could have helped him. Also when he finally reeled in the fish perhaps the boy could have helped fend off the shark and the fish could have been saved.

The battle between him and the marlin proved to be very difficult. Not having any help and being unprepared didn't make it any easier. But perhaps those things were what made the old man consider the fish as an equal.