Research Paper on "Christian Symbolism in the Old Man and the Sea"

Research Paper 7 pages (2349 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Christian Symbolism in "The Old Man and the Sea"

Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" is certainly one of the most complex novels produced by the American writer. The story involves several episodes, each of them focused on the fisherman as he interacts with the fish, with nature, and as he imposes his bravery in an attempt to deal with existence. One can easily claim that Hemingway wrote the book as a reference to the life of Jesus of Nazareth, with Santiago's experiences being similar to the ones of Christ at certain moments in the novel.

The fish stands as one of the main Christian symbols, both through its representation and because it shares some of the foremost Christian values. Sympathy, persistence, and strength of mind are each characteristic to the animal. The pain and the stress that it feels during his efforts to escape do not cause it to become terrified. Instead, he attempts to be in control of his adversary, guiding Santiago for days without stop. Its honorable nature is proven by its behavior, as it does not try to dive to great depths and he wants to continue the fight in the open, with no sign of it being afraid of the consequences.

Symbolism can be observed throughout the novel, serving as an enhancer to the plot and to the main themes present in the writing. The manhood represented through the figure of the old man is impressive, with his determination knowing no boundaries, as he is ready to go through everything in order to remain faithful to his convictions. The human character, as shown by Hemingway through Santiago, is pure utopia and it is less likely that it can be present in today's society. Santiago's features make him unique and most readers are left with a feeling of admiration for the protagonist.

The fish and the old man are not being immoral in their struggle to win each other over, as they are simply doing nature's job. They are both trying to survive, one by expressing his desire to eat and the other by being reluctant to capitulate without a fight. Eventually, the fish's death is not an unfortunate event, as it simply sacrifices its life so that others can live better lives as a result. Not even when the sharks rob the old man of his much deserved prize, the symbolic value of the fish does not disappear, as it live on through his skeleton, which they cannot consume. Nor are they able to rob Santiago of his victory, as all that is lost in the end is the material value of the prize.

Santiago's greatness when considering its material worth is reduced to zero by the sharks. One of the greatest achievements in one's life can be nothing more than an easy meal for indifferent (and natural at the same time) individuals. Just like the people who lobbied against Christ, the sharks feel no sympathy for the old man's background, nor are they impressed at the success that he experienced. They are simply interested in their own well-being and will not hesitate to put the welfare of others at risk in order to become comfortable themselves. Christianity often relates to how people are subjected to a great deal of troubles across their lives. Also, it promotes the certainty that one would only achieve happiness if he or she remains true to their beliefs.

The sharks are representative for the destructive nature of the universe, and contribute to the theory that even when someone has reached a level of enlightenment, the respective person will continue to be persecuted by the natural world. Jesus Christ and the old man are proof that the surrounding world will never feel compassion, nor will it ever forgive anyone, regardless of their condition.

In spite of the fact that the old man does not even know what his challenger looks like for a large part of the book, his determination influence him in continuing to fight for his conviction. This can actually be considered a reference to religion, as even though one cannot see God, he or she are free to go through great efforts in order to accomplish their ideals.

Being a true man means that one would have to engage in a ruthless fight for their principles, no matter what the risks are. Determined to show the fish that he will stop at nothing until one of them wins, Santiago proves "what a man can do and what a man endures" (Hemingway, 1984, p. 65). The old man is a true hero, and furthermore he is one that never stops from performing his job. The success he experienced in the past is not enough to have him satisfied with his present condition. He is still required to give his best every day, with some challenges being even greater than the ones before.

The fisherman comes from a time when things were very different from how they are today. While today's individuals are inclined to pay more attention to an influential group or organization, Santiago is to be appreciated because of his individuality and because he manages to become respected for his role.

Unlike in other books of his, Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" does not employ a great deal of words and explanations. The author's most probable intention for doing so can be the fact that he wanted the public to be fascinated by the old man's beautiful simplicity. It is surprising how a normal fisherman proves to be much more than what he is considered by society.

Similar to how people often identify with the character of Jesus Christ, they are likely to feel that at a certain point in their lives they underwent a situation that was similar to the one Santiago found himself in. However, while society taught people that they are sinners and that no man is capable of behaving similar to Christ, Hemingway takes his character to a god-like level, where it is virtually impossible for an individual today to think that he were able to survive an experience like that that the old men went trough.

As the story progresses it becomes obvious that Hemingway inspired the novel from the New Testament. One can easily make links between the characters in "The Old Man and the Sea" and the ones in the holy writing.

Santiago is constantly subjected to misfortunes and yet he never gives the impression that he is defeated. Regardless of the gravity of the situation that he comes across, the old men does not yield in the face of his hardship and continues to fight destiny. He is a perfect example of a dedicated Christian, given the fact that he remains devoted to his beliefs.

On the first day of being out to sea, Santiago captures an oversized fish, managing to have the animal pierce his mouth with the hook. On the holy Friday, Jesus was crucified and the nail went through his hands. The second day out on the sea, Santiago waited in hope that the fish would rise, mentioning that he was ready to pray in order for the fish to become his. On the day consequent to Jesus' crucifixion, the apostles prayed in hope that their teacher would rise. On the third day, Santiago managed to kill the fish at the time when it rose above the water. Likewise, Jesus rose from his grave on the third day and ascended to heaven, leaving the physical world behind him.

Santiago's dreams portraying lion cubs and fully grown lions are probably an allusion to how Jesus Christ was certain that his suffering will produce a better world for the generations to come. All of the old man's problems are forgotten when he thinks about the lions, and about young Manolin, whom has grown into a powerful man.

Even though the old man assisted Manolin across his early years and taught him everything that the young man knew, they were not together at the time when Santiago had to fight the powerful fish. This can be likened to an episode in the life of Jesus Christ, when his followers abandon him when he most needs them. Because of the materials offered by society, people are predisposed to leave their feelings behind when they are faced with an ethical dilemma.

Manolin is taught how to succeed in life by living by a series of simple principles and by refraining to commit immoralities. Manolin is a symbol for the disciples while Santiago is likened to Christ in the relationship between the two fishermen. The old man is primarily supposed to provide Manolin with information regarding fishing, but he does much more than that, as he teaches the young man about life and about faith.

Christianity is generally considered to be a very complex religion. However, similar to fishing, it is based on some fundamental and rather simple principles.

Santiago goes through a continuous torment with the purpose… READ MORE

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