Name :- Hitixa Goswami
Class :- M. A. Sam 2
Roll No :- 9
Enrollment No :- 2069108420200013
Subject:- The American Literature
Assignment Topic :- Symbolism in" the old man and the sea "
Email:- hitixagoswami28@gamil
Submitted to :- S.B.GARDI, Department of English Bhavnagar University
World :- 1,609
Introduction :- The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway is a great novella with many philosophical ideas. He is very careful while portraying characters by writer in this novel. 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 and he wants to go fishing. Hemingway has presented the character of Santiago with strong determination will power, hope and confidence, this is the plus points of him.
About the Author
Ernest Hemingway is an author and journalist. He was born in 1899 and died in 1961. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He started his career as a writer in newspaper office. At the age of seventeen he works for an office of newspaper in Kansas City. After he comes united state and he became a reporter for American and Canadian newspapers and he was soon sent back to Europe to cover such a events as the Greek revolution. Then he joined a volunteer ambulance unit in the Italian army after the First World War. During the 20th century he became a group member of expatriate Americans in Paris.
The Sun Also Rises in 1926 And Equally successful was A Farewell to Arms in 1929, the study of an American ambulance officer’s disillusionment in the war. Ernest Hemingway's role as a deserter. Hemingway used his experiences as a reporter during the war in Spain for his most ambitious novel, For Which the Bell Tolls in 1940. And among his later works, the most well known is the short novel, The Old Man and the Sea in 1952, this novel is famous novel of him. He explains the story of an old fisherman’s journey, his long and lonely struggle with a fish and the sea, and his victory in defeat. His full name is Ernest Hemingway and who is an American journalist. He is a novelist. He is short story writer. He is also sports. He had strong influence on 20th century fiction.
" The old man and the sea"
The old man and the sea is a short novel written by American author Hemingway. It was the last major work of fiction by Hemingway that was published during his lifetime. Whole novel swings between victory and defeat. It was a story about An old man's struggle , he was a skilled fisherman ; which he supposed to prove infront of society. He wants victory in his life. Throught the novel with a boy's eyes we can see the character of an old man.
The novel's structure and plot was very good, limited characters, huge message we got with many interpretation.An old man many times dreamed about lion. We can see theme of love, life and alienation. In novel sea symbolizes the universe and at the end sea makes the old man tragic hero. Manolin, a great fish which was caught by an old man symbolizes the youth of Santiago.
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 like….
The symbol of The Lions
Lions are the symbol of youth, Freedom and Strength. The novella begins with the dream of Santiago whose dream of the lion on the beach. lion represent a hunter that is wild, noble and manly, the King of that particular environment. The lions are a symbol from Santiago’s childhood, he remembers seeing them on the beach in Africa when he sailed there in his youth. The lions symbolize Santiago's lost youth as well as his pride.
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.
The symbol 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.
Symbol of The Marlin
Marlin symbolized strength and durability and putting up such struggle. Marlin represents both the perseveration of man´s social status and his incessant life powers. Santiago considered Marlin’s power equal to him and called him brother . The sharks run parallel to the fisherman in the novel who judge Santiago harshly. Marlin also represent the “MIRROR IMAGE” of Old man.
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 find shim lucky 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.
The symbol of 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. Menolin is very symbolic character .“The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him”- symbolizes as a Christ and one of his disciple.
Between Manolin and Old man there is vast age differences between them its symbolizes their skill of fishing. Manolin is the symbol of hope . Manolin would take care of the old man when he said to him "Keep warm old man. Remember we are in September.
The 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 defenceless. The lost harpoon is symbol of loss of power, strength, virility, pride. Santiago loses his harpoon-the first of many such losses as he continues a futile battle with sharks.
Conclusion
Old man and the sea is symbolism has far deeper significance. The book is representation of life as struggle against unconquerable force of nature. In this novella Hemingway symbolized person , place or thing to represent the real meaning of his writing In every day struggle of old man there is deep meaning behind it. Hemingway is very much connected with the nature .
Work sited
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. , 1952.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. 1st Scribner paperback Fiction ed. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995.
Hemingway ,Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1952. 1955.
Brenner, Gerry, 1937-. The Old Man and the Sea : Story of a Common Man. Boston :Twayne Publishers, 1991.
Taylor, Charles. "The Old Man and the Sea: A Nietzschean Tragic Vision." Dalhousie Review 61, No. 4 (Winter 1981-82), p. 638.
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