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The Old Man and the Sea: The Simple Story
(Spoiler Warning)
(Old Man Discussions:)
1. The Story
Before the Story
2. The Simple
Story
3. Critics,
Symbolism, Shit
Both structurally and narratively, The Old Man and the Sea is the most simple piece of
fiction Ernest Hemingway ever created. Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, completes his
eighty-fourth day without a catch. Among the superstitious folk of the fishing village, only
Manolin, a young boy and Santiago's one-time apprentice, remains friends with the old man
during the time of his bad luck, takes care of him, and brings the old man food to eat at
night. But after forty days without a catch, Manolin's parents tell him to join with one of
the larger, more successful boats. But even though he no longer fishes with the old man,
Manolin's friendship with Santiago never fails.
The following morning, Santiago takes his small boat past the coastal waters, avoiding the
commercial boats. He hooks a tremendous marlin, and when Santiago tries to bring him in, he
finds that the fish is too big, has too much life in him. Instead of making his catch,
Santiago is towed out to sea by the marlin.
Santiago's struggle is not confined to a battle with the fish. Minutes and hours pass,
lengthen into days. Because of the marlin's size, Santiago cannot simply tie off the line--the
fish would snap through the line's straight tension. Thus, through the strain of thirst and
hunger and the ceaseless heat of the sun, Santiago's old arms bear the burden of the fight
across the entirety of three days. As exhaustion and dehydration continue to eat away at the
old man, Santiago learns so deep a respect for this fish that he thinks, "there is no one
worthy of eating him from the manner of his behavior and his great dignity."
At last, on the third day the fish begins to tire, and the delirious old man is able to turn,
then pierce the marlin with his harpoon, and bring the long siege of his catchless, luckless
days to an end.
But the old man's trial has not ended. Only one hour passes before the first shark finds the
marlin's scent in the water, and other sharks follow the first. Santiago fights off each shark,
killing many, first with his harpoon until it is lost, then his knife, then with the rudder of
his own boat. Each shark attack costs him part of his fish. He knows he will lose his fish,
and still he fights with all the strength he still commands. Against all odds, he battles his
way through the sharks and his own delirium, and eventually he drags his boat to shore. But
only the naked skeleton of his marlin remains.
Book Search for The Old Man and the Sea
(Old Man Discussions:)
1. The Story
Before the Story
2. The Simple Story
3. Critics,
Symbolism, Shit
Taboo Monkey on Three Novels:
1. The Sun Also
Rises
2. A Farewell to
Arms
3. For Whom the
Bell Tolls
Suggested Reading Index
Read Five Hemingway Stories
Full Text
Stories
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