Roll
no :20
M.A.
Semester : 3
Year : 2016-17
Paper
no : 10 (American Literature)
Topic :Symbolism in 'the
oldman and the sea'
Email
id :marujanak17@gmail.com
Submitted to: Smt. S.B Gardi Department
of English
Maharaja
Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
v Introduction:
Old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway is a
great novella with many philosophical ideas. Hemingway is very careful while
portraying characters in his works. The novella is centred on one major
character Santiago. As the title suggest Santiago is an old man. He is of 75
years old Cuban fisherman. Hemingway has presented the character of Santiago
with strong determination will power, hope and confidence.
v Symbolism
in the Old man and the Sea:
Ø this
novella the symbolism has far deeper kingficance.
Ø the
book is representation of life as struggle against unconquerable force of
nature.
Ø in this
novella Hemingwaiy symbolized person, place or thing to represent the real
meaning of his writing.
Ø Hemingway
is very much connected with the nature and he uses all nature in this Novells.
v Meaning
of Symbolism:
According to
Oxford Dictionary
"Symbolism
means use of symbols like Object, character use of figure of colour to
represent abstract idea concept or quality"
the element of symbolism is presented in all
the works of Hemingway. However, the word symbolism came to be associated with
him only after the appearance of his novel “Old man and the sea”. Hemingway’s
use of symbols comes to climax in this novel. As a result, the novel is reach
in symbolism images and motifs that enhance both the plot and the themes.
Symbolism
is an essential literary device used by Ernest Hemingway in his book the old
man and the sea. Hemingway uses numerous forms of symbolism but a recurring
contour id biblical allusion. Hemingway filled this story with biblical
allusion to create a deeper meaning within the text. Knowing biblical allusion
allows a reader to have wider perspective of the story.
The
major symbols used by Hemingway are as follow.
Symbolic
use of sea:
The major symbol used by
Hemingway in distinctive way is the wide sea. This sea is symbol of life
itself. Man has to sail either it is sea or life to go through. According to
Hemingway, in both the sea and in life, there are many possibilities and
similarities that the eye cannot see. The first similarity between them is
that, both the sea and life are full of mystery, surprise, shock and challenge.
However man has to fight bravely and nobly until the end.
the man is lucky enough, and
then he may discover treasure from sea. Likewise if the man is lucky then he
will gain love, good family, peace and education. However, if he is unlucky
than he may not find even single small fish from the greatest and wide sea.Same
case with life.If the person is unfortunate then he struggle and suffer, a lot
even for one time meal.
However,
either it is like or sea, man has to embark journey and go through it amid all
possible odes.
For example- Santiago goes for eighty four days without a single fish but he does
not give up. He even continues his journey on eighty fifth days and brings a
giant Marlin which shows his victory.
Symbolic
use of Marlin and Shark:
·
Magnificent and glorious, the marlin
symbolizes the ideal opponent. In a world in which “everything kills everything
else in some way,” Santiago feels genuinely lucky to find himself matched
against a creature that brings out the best in him: his strength and courage,
his love and respect.
· Marlin is symbol of human beings – first
killed by God and then comes to save from damnation – FALL of Adam/Eve and
birth of Son of the God as Jesus Christ – Santiago is Christ.
· Marlin
symbolically represents – ‘virtue is its own reward’ (struggle is its own
reward)–Santiago returns without any reward of his struggle. The true reward is
not Marlin; the reward is his ability and faith in struggle. His belief in
‘never say die’ attitude is reaffirmed and that is his reward. His strong
resolution in his battle with shark is his reward.
The sharks are little more than moving
appetites who thoughtlessly and gracelessly attack the marlin. As opponents for
the old man, they stand in bold contrast to the marlin, which is worthy of
Santiago's effort and strength. They symbolize and embody the destructive laws
of the universe and attest to the fact that those laws can be transcended only
when equals fight to the death. Because they are base predators, Santiago wins
no glory from battling them.
Symbol
of Skiff:
The
skiff symbol of Santiago himself, as Santiago struggle in his life, the skiff
also have to struggle in the sea The skiff also symbol of the defeated human
beings.
The
Harpoon:
Santiago lost his harpoon as he finds a shark, symbolic of
individual who lose their faith as life’s goes attack. Much like Santiago
without harpoon, those without faith are defenceless. The lost harpoon is
symbol of loss of power, strength, virility, pride. Santiago loses his
harpoon-the first of many such losses as he continues a futile battle with sharks.
Symbolic use of
number:
The
numeric symbolism in the novel ‘’the old man and the sea’’ seen to be
religious. Numbers of figure like three, seven, forty and eighty five have
special significant I the bible.
Example when the novel opens,
we come to know that Santiago has unsuccessfully fished for forty days. This
figure is considered unlucky in the bible
Then
Santiago’s fight with great fish marlin lasts for three days. Thus figure
symbolizes struggle in the bible. There is reference to figure eighty five
which is considered to be lucky and good figure. Even Santiago remarks.
Santiago
Symbol of Crucification and Chritianity:
Many
times, stories by Hemingway have much religious influence and symbolism. In the
old man and the sea, by Ernest Hemingway, numerous occurrences in the life of
Santiago the fisherman are similar to the incident recorded in the life of
Jesus of Nazareth. The names of the character translated from Spanish to
English are just one of those many similarities.
In
the story, there are many references to the crucifixion of Jesus. Santiago’s
badly injured hand evokes the hands of the crucified Jesus and three other
situations reinforce this theory first, Santiago’s marlin is approached by a
pair of shovel nosed sharks.
Cunclusion:
The book is the oldman and the sea representation of life as
struggle against unconquerable force of nature. In this novella Hemingway
symbolized person , place or thing to represent the real meaning of his
writing In every day struggle of old man there is deep meaning
behind it. Hemingway is very much connected with the nature.
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