In the story, “The Old Man and the Sea,” Ernest Hemingway presents the protagonist, Santiago, as an extraordinary, old fisherman with various qualities that make him an optimal at his craft: filled with pride, confidence and everlasting strength. The old man’s most notable attribute is his incessant pride; no amount of pain can quench Santiago’s pride and confidence. Multiple parallels exist between Santiago and the classic heroes of today’s society; in addition to extreme strength, bravery and intelligence, such heros posses a tragic flaw that eventually leads to their downfall. In this story, pride would be considered a tragic flaw, but through control and balance, the old man manages to use it as an advantage. Depending on an individual
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He has a balance between humility and pride, thus not allowing it to take over. Before the old man sailed out to the gulf, Manolin announced, “And the best fisherman is you”, Santiago humbly disagrees, “No. I know others better” (Hemingway, 23). He acts humble by decreasing his skills and abilities by comparing himself to that of other individuals. Here, Santiago’s balance between two of his qualities is visible. Humility seems to be a beneficial characteristic, as it keeps the old man sound and rational in his decisions on the sea. Pride, however, is what motivates him to stay at sea and continue fighting for the fish. In fact, without a ravening sense of pride, that battle would never have been fought, or more likely, it would have been abandoned before the …show more content…
Due to its extreme size and weight, the old man was not able to reel the fish in, instead the fish was the one that pulled the skiff. After 3 days out at sea, battling the fish, he keeps fighting the despite intense suffering. His pride doesn 't allow him to give up. He knows his strengths and refuses to give up. “ I hate a cramp, he thought. It is a treachery of one’s own body. It is humiliating before others to have a diarrhoea from ptomaine poisoning or to vomit from it. But a cramp, he thought of it as a calambre, humiliates oneself especially when one is alone.” Santiago seems to question his pride here, hating himself for having a cramp as it causes him to be uncertain about his abilities as a fisherman. Soon after, he gathers his strengths and says, ““Bad news for you, fish,” he said and shifted the line over the sacks that covered his shoulders. He was comfortable but suffering, although he did not admit the suffering at all.”” He didn 't want to admit his suffering, he decided to remain with pride and that is what kept him going. Without his everlasting pride, he would have gave up and let the fish go. Santiago’s pride also motivates his desire to transcend the destructive forces of the sea. Throughout the novel, no matter how baleful his circumstances become, the old man exhibits an unflagging determination to catch the marlin and bring it to shore. Ignoring the hardships involved in his duel with the great fish,
He has a balance between humility and pride, thus not allowing it to take over. Before the old man sailed out to the gulf, Manolin announced, “And the best fisherman is you”, Santiago humbly disagrees, “No. I know others better” (Hemingway, 23). He acts humble by decreasing his skills and abilities by comparing himself to that of other individuals. Here, Santiago’s balance between two of his qualities is visible. Humility seems to be a beneficial characteristic, as it keeps the old man sound and rational in his decisions on the sea. Pride, however, is what motivates him to stay at sea and continue fighting for the fish. In fact, without a ravening sense of pride, that battle would never have been fought, or more likely, it would have been abandoned before the …show more content…
Due to its extreme size and weight, the old man was not able to reel the fish in, instead the fish was the one that pulled the skiff. After 3 days out at sea, battling the fish, he keeps fighting the despite intense suffering. His pride doesn 't allow him to give up. He knows his strengths and refuses to give up. “ I hate a cramp, he thought. It is a treachery of one’s own body. It is humiliating before others to have a diarrhoea from ptomaine poisoning or to vomit from it. But a cramp, he thought of it as a calambre, humiliates oneself especially when one is alone.” Santiago seems to question his pride here, hating himself for having a cramp as it causes him to be uncertain about his abilities as a fisherman. Soon after, he gathers his strengths and says, ““Bad news for you, fish,” he said and shifted the line over the sacks that covered his shoulders. He was comfortable but suffering, although he did not admit the suffering at all.”” He didn 't want to admit his suffering, he decided to remain with pride and that is what kept him going. Without his everlasting pride, he would have gave up and let the fish go. Santiago’s pride also motivates his desire to transcend the destructive forces of the sea. Throughout the novel, no matter how baleful his circumstances become, the old man exhibits an unflagging determination to catch the marlin and bring it to shore. Ignoring the hardships involved in his duel with the great fish,