Symbolism in Old man and the sea

Name – Shital D Italiya

Roll no – 29

Paper – 10 (American literature)

Topic – Symbolism in Old Man and the Sea

Semester – 3

Submitted to – Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English

                              M.K.Bhavnagar University

                                      Bhavnagar

Symbolism

 Introduction

                    Old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway is a great novella with many philosophical ideas. Hemingway is very careful while portraying characters in his works. The novella is centered on one major character Santiago. As the title suggest Santiago is an old man. He is of 75 years old Cuban fisherman. Hemingway has presented the character of Santiago with strong determination will power, hope and confidence.

What is symbolism?

According to Oxford Dictionary

                

            "Symbolism means use of symbols like Object, character use of figure of color to represent abstract idea concept or quality"

                         The element of symbolism is presented in all the works of Hemingway. However, the word symbolism came to be associated with him only after the appearance of his novel “Old man and the sea”. Hemingway’s use of symbols comes to climax in this novel. As a result, the novel is reach in symbolism images and motifs that enhance both the plot and the themes.

Symbolism is an essential literary device used by Ernest Hemingway in his book the old man and the sea. Hemingway uses numerous forms of symbolism but a recurring contour id biblical allusion. Hemingway filled this story with biblical allusion to create a deeper meaning within the text. Knowing biblical allusion allows a reader to have wider perspective of the story.

The major symbols used by Hemingway are as follow.

v Symbolic use of sea.

              The major symbol used by Hemingway in distinctive way is the wide sea. This sea is symbol of life itself. Man has to sail either it is sea or life to go through. According to Hemingway, in both the sea and in life, there are many possibilities and similarities that the eye cannot see. The first similarity between them is that, both the sea and life are full of mystery, surprise, shock and challenge. However man has to fight bravely and nobly until the end.

               Accordingly, it the man is lucky enough, and then he may discover treasure from sea. Likewise if the man is lucky then he will gain love, good family, peace and education. However, if he is unlucky than he may not find even single small fish from the greatest and wide sea.Same case with life.If the person is unfortunate then he struggle and suffer, a lot even for one time meal.

However, either it is like or sea, man has to embark journey and go through it amid all possible odes.

For example- Santiago goes for eighty four days without a single fish but he does not give up. He even continues his journey on eighty fifth days and brings a giant Marlin which shows his victory.

  

 v Symbolic use of Baseball and lion.

                           The novel introduces two important symbols of baseball and lion. These are recurring reference to DiMaggio who symbolizes Santiago’s determination, will- power enthusiasm and physical strength at the age of 75 year. In American baseball history, DiMaggio is the greatest player of baseball of all time. Though he was handicapped physically, he was determined and strong mentally. Santiago’s frequent returns to baseball players DiMaggio empires him to win the battle in spite to old age. The image of the baseball hero playing in pain, giver Santiago renewed vigor and stamina to bear his own pain.

              Thus, DiMaggio in the role model for Santiago and he symbolize triumphant survival.

                  Hemingway has presented lions. They are little cubs who symbolize youthful possibility and great thing to come Santiago often dreams lion playing on African beach. The image of them always makes Santiago happy. They have his good company just like mandolin. The appearance of lion suggests great strength, nobility, aspiration, victory and ambition. According to the novelist Hemingway,

“He no longer dreamed of storms, or of woman, nor of accordance nor of great fish… did he only dream of places now and then lion on the beach.”

           Santiago’s dreams of lion suggest circular nature of life and harmony between two opposite force like death, love and hate, destruction and regeneration of nature.

v  Symbolic use of Marlin and Shark.

               Marlin a magnificent and glorious fish symbolizes the mysterious world of sea which is full of surprise and challenge.

              Secondly, the marlin symbolizes the ideal and worthily opponent. Even Santiago findshimlucky to match against a creature like marlin because it is his battle with marlin that brings out the best in him. Santiago realizes his strength, courage, love and respect due to marlin.

                 Thirdly, it is only due to marlin, both Santiago and even we realize the unexpected world of sea. Santiago is shocked when he realize marlin’s size power and determination. He is pulled by marlin for a large portion.

A part from this, marlin is even presented as a Christian allegory. Marlin is as calm and cool as lord as Jesus was. Though it is hooked by Santiago, it is not attacked on him instead of tries to guide its followers to win him over. Moreover marlin is also described as s great source of food for other. It means it sacrifices itself so that other may live and survive.

                    However the sheiks are in great contrast to marlin. The shoved nose shark has attacked the marlin thoughtlessly. They symbolize the destructive force of the universe. They stand for evil.

                      Fish can resemble the Christian faith in this book. Fish are the antagonist of Santiago. Santiago may find the fish as his brother but through the tension of opposites within destruction and defeat fish bring out the best in Santiago. This tension makes Santiago feel a love for fish the fish while struggling against the fish. He has to work hard for them and they are the force that pain him through his crucifixion and allows for his later resurrection.

                       Throughout the story Santiago has faith and perseveres that he will catch fish like the other entire fisherman. Near the end sharks start killing all of the fish. The shark resembles the evil of the world trying to pick away at him. Santiago never gives up on catching his faith though even if the flesh is eaten off he still wants to finish what he started. Santiago finally catches his fish on Monday also known as “Good Friday’’ the day of sacrifice. Ehen he caught the fish he did not do it for the pride of the fish itself, he did it for a personal sense. This can portrays the image that evil may be able to try and break apart people and their faith. Evil can never truly take away the bones or the morals that are the structure of the real faith.

v Symbolic use of numbers like three, seven, forty and eighty five.

 The numeric symbolism in the novel ‘’the old man and the sea’’ seen to be religious. Numbers of figure like three, seven, forty and eighty five have special significant I the bible.

Example-when the novel opens, we come to know that Santiago has unsuccessfully fished for forty days. This figure is considered unlucky in the bible 

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                Then Santiago’s fight with great fish marlin lasts for three days. Thus figure symbolizes struggle in the bible.

There is reference to figure eighty five which is considered to be lucky and good figure. Even Santiago remarks;

	“Eighty five is a lucky number’’

 

  Thus, such figures are biblical allegory in the novel.

v Santiago; symbol of crucifixion and Christianity.

                         Many times, stories by Hemingway have much religious influence and symbolism. In the old man and the sea, by Ernest Hemingway, numerous occurrences in the life of Santiago the fisherman are similar to the incident recorded in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The names of the character translated from Spanish to English are just one of those many similarities.

                        In the story, there are many references to the crucifixion of Jesus. Santiago’s badly injured hand evokes the hands of the crucified Jesus and three other situations reinforce this theory first, Santiago’s marlin is approached by a pair of shovel nosed sharks.

 According to Carlos Baker

“Santiago shows certain qualities of mind and heart; which are clearly associated with the character and personality of Jesus Christ in the gospel stories’’.

             In order to suggest the profundity of the old man’s sacrifice and glory, Hemingway purposefully present Santiago likes a Christ, crucification imagery is the most eye- catching in the novel.

Example- Santiago’s suffering and pain reminds use of Christ’s suffering. In the very beginning when his palms are cut by fishing lines and at last when he collapses on his bed, at that time, we remind of the image of Christ suffering on the cross 

           In short, Santiago has essentially Christian virtues like humanity, sacrifice, love, respect etc.

                     There are continuous steams of points that imply to a reader that the character Santiago is like Jesus. Throughout the book Santiago displays many key characteristics like Jesus. Santiago also has many relation and makes actions like many said that Jesus would have. One act is “he then shouldered the mast and started to climb. It was then he knew the depth of his tiredness’’. This resembles the crucification of Jesus. The mast can resemble the cross as Santiago climbs a hill like Jesus did before his crucification. Actions like these are what set the biblical setting of this book through the comparison of Santiago to Jesus. This comparison makes the reader able to make more connections building the tension of opposite like good and evil in the story.

                    Santiago lives his life as Jesus. Santiago has the sense of sacrifice and moral dignity. In this book there was a quote where Santiago “had the deep- creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords. But none of these scars were fresh’’. Santiago had scars in his hands from catching the fish. There are more connections to this quote like how his scars are similar to Jesus’ scars from where his hands were nailed to the cross.

                      Santiago sacrificed his in the story to catch fish. Fish has been referred to as the Christian faith. This could build a larger connection that Jesus sacrificed his flash to catch the faith of his people and Sheppard them to enlightenment. Santiago also has similar process as to catching the fish. Santiago has deeper personal meaning of fishing and this is why he does not s          how off his fish like the rest of the fish.

                      The old man and the sea is biblical allusion. There are multiple themes that the core of this book. An example that has been illustrated by Ernest Hemingway is Santiago being like Jesus. This shows that the story is biblical allusion. Overall throughout the book fish is the main catalyst of biblical allusion of Christianity. Finally the example of Santiago and his self sacrifice create a more precise system of moral dignity.

                      Santiago climbs the hill to his shack, with the mast on his shoulder, falling several times. This is an obvious reference to Christ’s struggle to carry the cross up the hill cavalry.

v Personal allegory

                    The novel old man and the sea can be read as personal parable and a universal allegory. Hemingway has given biographical touch to the character of Santiago which brings personal allegory in the novel. Santiago serves as a metaphor for the creative artist like Hemingway. There is similarity between them.

Example- Santiago struggles a lot to prove his talent in fishing art. 

                    Likewise ever Hemingway struggles a lot to prove his writing talent. They both believe that mere one record is not enough in the life. We have to struggle till end.

                         A part from all these Hemingway has used his characters symbolically Santiago is symbol of determination, will power and strength, he proclaims,

	“Man is not made for defeat; a man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

 

                Likewise little mandolin is symbol of the next generation of fisherman and symbol of love, devotion, care and respect.

                     Hemingway’s factual use of symbols in the old man and the sea has provided him the great symbolist. In American literature, it is because of the rich symbolism. The novel is often considered as

	“The classic of American literature; the classic of this generation.’’

 

v The Mast

                    The mast is an obvious allusion of cross of Jesus. It is on his skiff, where stands the mast, that Santiago suffer. Santiago suffers at sea for three days with painful injury to the palm of his hand and his back.

v Manolin

                   Santiago’s young friend represents hope. Although Manolin’s father prohibits him from fishing with Santiago. Who is believed to be cursed, Manolin never abandons him emotionally. It can be argued however that as Santiago fishes without hopes. The 84 day fishless streak attests to it.

v The lost harpoon

                    Santiago lost his harpoon as he finds a shark, symbolic of individual who lose their faith as life’s goes attack. Much like Santiago without harpoon, those without faith are defenseless.