Despite Hemingway’s denial about the presence of symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea, its presence is pretty undeniable. Santiago, the protagonist; the two different types of sharks, a Mako and shovel-heads; symbolize death and unworthiness, respectively.
Similarly, what do sharks symbolize in the Old Man and the Sea?
The Shovel-nosed sharks symbolize unworthy opponents due to their destructive nature. In The Old Man and the Sea Santiago says to himself, “They took about forty pounds” (Hemingway 103). The mutilation of the fish shows the true destructive nature of the sharks.
One may also ask, what is the name of the old man in the sea? Santiago – The old man of the novella’s title, Santiago is a Cuban fisherman who has had an extended run of bad luck.
Also, how many sharks were in the Old Man and the Sea?
He makes a new harpoon by strapping his knife to the end of an oar to help ward off the next line of sharks; five sharks are slain and many others are driven away.
What do the Lions symbolize in the Old Man and the Sea?
The lions symbolize youth, strength, happiness, and hope for the old man. In the midst of his epic battle with the big fish, Santiago again dreams about the lions, and “he (is) happy”.
14 Related Question Answers Found
What is the sea a symbol of?
Usually, ‘the sea’ is used as a symbol in literature to represent life and its hardships. The sea, with its daunting width and depth, simply stands for life itself. It may be quite calm, but it become raging and even deadly in an instant, with the waves representing the sudden obstacles life throws our way.
What does Joe DiMaggio symbolize?
Joe DiMaggio symbolizes the determination and competitive nature of Santiago and how he uses this to get up every day and fish, even if he comes back empty-handed. As a result, the young boy Manolin sees Santiago as Santiago perceives Joe DiMaggio: as a great man.
What is the moral of the Old Man and the Sea?
The message imparted in the story “The Old Man and the Sea” is persistence, mental toughness, and resilience. Santiago, the protagonist, is a seasoned fisherman who has not caught a fish for 84 successive days. This is the core theme of the story. Santiago’s persistence stems from mental toughness.
What does the old man symbolize?
The old man symbolizes all innocent refugees who have been displaced by the horrific realities of wars that they do not understand. He represents all such common folk, the main victims of war, who lose their homes and their livelihoods and their possessions when war breaks out around them.
What does Manolin mean?
Manolin is the diminutive form of Manuel. This is also a very popular Spanish name that can be traced back to the Bible. Its root is Immanuel. In Hebrew, it means, ”God is with us” and it is often used as another name for Jesus since Immanuel is the name given in the Old Testament for the child conceived by a virgin.
What does the boat symbolize in the Old Man and the Sea?
Santiago’s Boat as an Extension of his Body Santiago’s skiff can also be read as a symbolic extension of his body. The old man and his boat take turns carrying one another: the skiff carries him when he’s fishing, and he carries the skiff for a short distance when he comes ashore.
What do sharks represent?
Unlike the dog spirit animal, the most common shark symbolism is power. The shark spirit animal exudes power, superiority, and authority in its natural environment. This indicates the need for you to fight for what you want. Do not back down, and be steely in your resolve to show everyone who is in charge.
What does Marlin mean in Santiago?
The marlin is a symbol for Christ and Communion, the symbolic ritual of The Last Supper. As Santiago ponders the importance of the most impressive catch in a lifetime of fishing, he thinks upon the fish and says: ‘How many people will he feed, he thought.
What was Santiago’s problem with the left hand?
While he cuts and eats the fish with his right hand, his already cut left hand cramps and tightens into a claw under the strain of taking all the fish’s resistance. Santiago is angered and frustrated by the weakness of his own body, but the tuna, he hopes, will reinvigorate the hand.
How many days does the old man spend at sea?
eighty-four days
Who is Santiago’s hero?
When he finally catches a fish, it is a huge and clever marlin that takes every ounce of perseverance Santiago can muster to bring in. When he is injured, he thinks of his hero, Joe DiMaggio, who plays despite his bone spur, and it gives him the strength he needs to ignore the pain.
Why does the boy cry in The Old Man and the Sea?
It is specifically when Manolin sees the appearance of Santiago that he begins to cry, so overwhelmed by emotion that he does not attempt to hide his tears when he sees other fishermen: The boy saw that the old man was breathing and then he saw the old man’s hands and he started to cry.
What are Santiago’s 3 dreams?
Santiago’s third dream is his boyhood dream of the lions, a dream of power and optimism. “and he waited to see if there would be more lions and he was happy.” This dream is symbolic of Santiago’s sense of manhood and reaffirmation of himself as a great fisherman since he may well bring in a tremendous catch.
Does Santiago die in The Old Man and the Sea?
Old Man and the Sea Essay It is believable that Santiago is dead at the end of The Old Man and the Sea. This conclusion can be deduced from the various hints Hemingway used throughout the novel. One event that foreshadowed Santiago’s death was the death of the marlin.