Who Is Santiago A Hero

Webster’s dictionary defines hero as “any person admired for courage, nobility, or exploits especially in war...any person admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as wan ideal or model. While Hemingway defines it as a man who lives correctly, following ideals of honor, courage and perseverance through painful and chaotic times. Which could be considered as brave or courageous. In my opinion both of these definitions represent a hero. But I believe they are leaving out some aspects of what it means to be a hero. In my opinion, to be a hero means your honest and humble. It also means you work hard when others aren’t looking and put your heart into everything you do. Lastly, it means your kind and you care about others and what they …show more content…
First off his courage, throughout the entire book Santiago shows courage in the face of fear and pain. He shows this in his battle against the first shark. “But that was the location of the brain and the old man hit it. He hit it with his blood mushed hands driving a good harpoon with all his strength.” pg. 35. This describes Santiago’s courage but also his perseverance. The shark has already attacked before and “took about forty pounds” pg. 35. Yet Santiago does not give up he fights back with all his strength and kills the shark. Webster’s dictionary also defines being a being hero as being a model and admired by others, which I think is true for Santiago. The reason I believe this is because Manolin admires and looks up to Santiago like a father and the way he thinks of him is as a …show more content…
When he’s fishing he works hard at his job, not to impress others but because he loves what he does and he needs to make a living. He’s always working and never stops to take a break. the old man said and he drove the blade between the vertebrae and the brain. It was an easy shot now and he felt the cartilage sever. The old man reversed the oar and put the blade between the shark’s jaws to open them. He twisted the blade and as the shark slid loose he said, “Go on, galano. Slide down a mile deep. Go see your friend, or maybe it’s your mother.” The old man wiped the blade of his knife and laid down the oar. Then he found the sheet and the sail filled and he brought the skiff onto her course.” pg. 38. Here we have Santiago completing a difficult task of fending of yet another shark, and as soon as that’s over he’s already setting sail and heading off on another task. Santiago also loves what he does and puts his heart into his