Who Is Ernest Hemingway A Christ Figure

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway was a very accomplished author in the 20th century. His writing had various themes and allusions. His characters in The Old Man and the Sea allude to Christ and His disciples(Baker 155). Hemingway’s portrayal of the old man in the book reflects the life and death of Jesus Christ. Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, to Clarence and Grace Hemingway. He was born and grew up in Chicago. Hemingway did not develop his desire for writing until he was in high school. When he graduated from high school, he decided not to go to college, so he moved to Kansas City and got a job reporting for the Star. He stayed there until World War 1 broke out, and then he left to enter the war. However, because he had a faulty …show more content…
If my books don’t make it how clear I feel about both, then I’ve failed in my life’s work”(Pratt 25). Though Hemingway stated this, critics believe his characters resembles people of the Bible. John Clark Pratt, a professional critic, said he believed Santiago (a character in The Old Man and the Sea) alluded to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. (Pratt). He also states that Santiago’s strength and will to catch the fish alludes to Christ and his will to die for us. Santiago also resembles Jesus in his struggles. Santiago struggles to to fight to catch the fish while Jesus struggled his physical pain on the cross. Carlos Baker wrote that Santiago resembles Jesus in the way Santiago fights through his physical pain to finish catching the marlin (Baker). Manolin is also a representation of a disciple in the way he calls Santiago “the best fisherman,” as Jesus’ disciples once called him. Baker believed “Hemingway had interested himself in the proposition that there must be a resemblance between Jesus and the disciples of God.” Baker goes on to say “Santiago’s qualities of humility, piety, and compassion allude to Christ.” “The suffering, the gentleness, and the wood, blend magically into an image of Christ on the cross.” He then states “Santiago shows, in his own right, certain qualities of mind and heart which are clearly associated with the character of Jesus Christ in the Gospel stories.” “God must, …show more content…
They even reminisce of their past experiences to help them persevere through their voyage(Stephens and Cools). Their relationship even strengthens Santiago’s confidence to catch the fish. “Santiago’s relationship with his apprentice has gone beyond mentoring, and even mutual respect, to a form of dependence (Stephens and Cools).” The character of the boy depicts what an old priest once said, “When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve. (Stephens and Cools).” This totally depicts their need of dependence of one another on their journey. The two were alone and utterly discouraged by the stealing of the fish. Manolin and Santiago were talking and Manolin said to Santiago, “My father hasn’t much faith.” to which Santiago replies, “No but we have.(Stephens and Cools).” This conversation describes the faith that these two have in each other. They know one without the other would give up. Ernest Hemingway was very skilled in his craft. Even though he once stated that he did not like to incorporate religion and politics into his works, The Old Man and the Sea alludes greatly to that of Christ (Pratt). The book can apply deeply to Christians in that Jesus can be seen through the character Santiago. Santiago’s struggles of fighting the marlin and the sea mirror the struggles that Jesus Christ endured. Christians will have struggles every single day until Christ returns,