The role of Manolin in relation to theme development is to highlight the old man's loneliness and want of friendship. Throughout the novel the old man longs to have the boy on the boat with him to keep him company. An example of this can be seen when the old man thinks, "But you haven't got the boy...You have only yourself..." (Hemingway 52). His constant want of the boy demonstrates his need for companionship and friendship. The age contrast between the two characters draws attention to their friendship. If the characters were the same age the relationship could be easily glossed over by readers whereas, the unique relationship between the old man and the young boy draws the reader's attention.
2. The meaning of the quote, "A man can be …show more content…
A tragic hero is someone who does something that eventually leads to their downfall. Santiago is a tragic hero because his pride leads to his eventual downfall. At one point Santiago acknowledges what will eventually be his biggest tangible problem, he states, "If sharks come, God pity [the fish] and me." (Hemingway 68) However his biggest intangible problem, his pride, gets in his way, he dismisses his thoughts, and continues to fight the fish. The old man's pride leads him to enter a fight that will not have a pleasant outcome, although the man technically wins the fight in the end he wastes many days at sea fighting for shark food. The reader views Santiago as heroic because even though he does not succeed in bringing any fish meat back to the town he caught the fish. Santiago views himself as not heroic because he was not able to bring back any of the meat, and therefore could not sell …show more content…
The role of the sea is to provide a way for the reader to view Santiago. How far out in the sea he is willing to go demonstrates his determination, his knowledge of the currents demonstrates his wisdom, and his thoughts on the creatures demonstrates his kindness. Throughout the novel the man feels internally conflicted about killing the great fish. For example, Santiago states, "The fish is my friend too... But I must kill him." (Hemingway 75) This statement demonstrates the beginning of his guilt for needing to kill the fish. Even after the fish's death he continues to speak to it as if it were a friend saying, "Half fish... But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others." (Hemingway 115) In addition, the novel has a central theme of man vs. nature. Literally the theme refers to Santiago's struggle with the sea and the fish. Figuratively the theme refers to the man wanting to do more than he should do in his old age. In the novel Santiago constantly refers to himself as old and he speaks much about his injuries that he receives however, he constantly states how strong he is and was. By the end of the novel however Santiago seems to accept his age. This is demonstrated when he allows himself to rest multiple times on his last walk up to his shack. This struggle is representative of life because people are simply trying to survive especially in their weak days, or even
2. The meaning of the quote, "A man can be …show more content…
A tragic hero is someone who does something that eventually leads to their downfall. Santiago is a tragic hero because his pride leads to his eventual downfall. At one point Santiago acknowledges what will eventually be his biggest tangible problem, he states, "If sharks come, God pity [the fish] and me." (Hemingway 68) However his biggest intangible problem, his pride, gets in his way, he dismisses his thoughts, and continues to fight the fish. The old man's pride leads him to enter a fight that will not have a pleasant outcome, although the man technically wins the fight in the end he wastes many days at sea fighting for shark food. The reader views Santiago as heroic because even though he does not succeed in bringing any fish meat back to the town he caught the fish. Santiago views himself as not heroic because he was not able to bring back any of the meat, and therefore could not sell …show more content…
The role of the sea is to provide a way for the reader to view Santiago. How far out in the sea he is willing to go demonstrates his determination, his knowledge of the currents demonstrates his wisdom, and his thoughts on the creatures demonstrates his kindness. Throughout the novel the man feels internally conflicted about killing the great fish. For example, Santiago states, "The fish is my friend too... But I must kill him." (Hemingway 75) This statement demonstrates the beginning of his guilt for needing to kill the fish. Even after the fish's death he continues to speak to it as if it were a friend saying, "Half fish... But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others." (Hemingway 115) In addition, the novel has a central theme of man vs. nature. Literally the theme refers to Santiago's struggle with the sea and the fish. Figuratively the theme refers to the man wanting to do more than he should do in his old age. In the novel Santiago constantly refers to himself as old and he speaks much about his injuries that he receives however, he constantly states how strong he is and was. By the end of the novel however Santiago seems to accept his age. This is demonstrated when he allows himself to rest multiple times on his last walk up to his shack. This struggle is representative of life because people are simply trying to survive especially in their weak days, or even