A Slant On

, # 8220 ; The Old Man And The Sea # 8221 ; Essay, Research Paper Santiago: A Perfect Role Model for Manolin In the novel, # 8220 ; The Old Man and the Sea # 8221 ; , Hemingway builds a character that is easy comparative to any great hero or graven image in history. This character, named # 8220 ; Santiago # 8221 ; displays the features needed to suppress his conflicts or at least make all he can to accomplish his ends. This is particularly of import sing the fact that he is looked at as a wise man of kinds by another character, the immature male child named? Manolin. ? Manolin has known the old adult male since the age of five. As a protege to Santiago, Manolin has grown to hold a great trade of regard for the old adult male. This is represented by the male child? s avidity to stand by the old adult male? s side no affair what the state of affairs is. Santiago is the prototype of the homo will, and a show for how bravery and doggedness are able to win over troubles that seem about impossible to get the better of. Early on in the novel, we see that the old adult male has fallen onto difficult times in his fishing profession. This is non the first clip this has happened though. It has been many yearss since his last gimmick and the state of affairs looks really black to those who do non cognize the old adult male? s desire and bravery. They see the# 8220 ; furrows # 8221 ; , and # 8220 ; malignant neoplastic disease blotches # 8221 ; of an old adult male, but non the eyes, which# 8220 ; have remained unchanged. # 8221 ; Most of the townsfolk know of Santiago? s looking discouragement, and their reactions to this are slightly disconnected. A good part of the townsfolk and chap fishermen sympathize for Santiago and keep a great trade of regard for this fallen hero. But the others shun him and his curst fishing fortune. They are superstitious and experience that he brings a dark cloud to loom over the small town that will cuss all of them with his exact bad fortune. However, it is clear to the reader that it is what Santiago possesses, which the pessimistic fishermen do non, that gives the old adult male an overall advantage. This prized ownership is identified by the reader as a strong will. It appears that Santiago has ever coveted the strong will. Once known as # 8220 ; El Campeon # 8221 ; , because of his singular arm-wrestling and fishing abilities, it appears that he still obtains this strong will inside him. As a human-centered in the truest sense, he was more than willing to learn the immature Manolin everything he knew of angling while Manolin was merely a really immature kid. In return, a great trade of esteem was formed by Manolin in acknowledgment for the befriending by Santiago. Presently, nevertheless, Manolin, like many of the other fishermen isn? t absolutely clear on how to react to the old adult male? s quandary. He realizes that the old adult male is in an improbably atrocious fishing drouth, but he besides remembers their doggedness in the yesteryear and the wagess they reaped for it. He decides that he will take non to listen to others such as his male parent and what they have to state, and continue in support of his friend. As a mark of his trueness, Manolin foremost asks the old adult male if he may attach to him on his following twenty-four hours? s trip to sea. At first this supplication is turned down by the old adult male. But after farther bargaining and a spot of reminiscing of better times, the old adult male agrees to some aid from the male child. The reluctance by Santiago shows his attention for the male child? s wellbeing. It is merely the adult male? s assurance in his salvation that allowed him to eventually accept the male child? s offer of aid. Santiago? s certainty in this # 8220 ; salvation # 8221 ; is perplexing to some, while Manolin has no problem hold oning the thought. This is because the qualities that have been instilled into the male child are the same as the old adult male? s. They are genuinely believing on the same wavelength. This separates, or isolates them from the remainder of the small town ; but neither the male child nor the adult male truly cares. Subsequently in the book comes the difficult trial of Santiago? s mental and physical strengths. Finally, his opportunity for salvation, comes in the signifier of a Very big fish. In fact, it is the largest fish the old adult male has of all time attempted to catch. A great conflict between the old adult male and the fish Begins. This conflict, nevertheless, is non one fueled by fury and defeat, but instead by bravery and volitions. The old adult male and the fish are similar in certain facets. These facets are recognized by the old adult male, and this is why the conflict is such an honest one apparently on both terminals of the rope. # 8220 ; There is a difference between ? killing? and the ceasing of allowing an animate being die. # 8221 ; Santiago knows this, and he is good determined to convey in the mighty fish, and intelligibly so. # 8220 ; When an single sees that all finite centres and truenesss are fliting and incapable of being permanent objects of religion, so he will abdicate all old attempts in desperation, repent in humbleness, and appreciatively do the motion of religion by which entirely his life can go meaningful and worthwhile. # 8221 ; Yet at the same clip his regard for the fish and award of his ain character clutters any opportunities of pure satisfaction for the salvation that would be the violent death of the fish. Santiago found award in everything he did. He was non a mendicant ; though he had much to implore for. He was non a quitter ; though failure long stared him in the eyes. Most significantly, he was a lovingness adult male. He cared for himself and others every bit. It was easy to see that these traits had so been passed down to Manolin. Just as the old adult male found no # 8220 ; loss of true pride # 8221 ; in his failures, the male child found similarly in his friendly relationship with the old adult male. After all, in Hemingway? s # 8220 ; hunt for wider societal significance # 8221 ; , # 8220 ; The Old Man and the Sea # 8221 ; showed it is non success that determines one? s worth. It is, as the male child and the adult male both knew, character that is the true clincher. Bibliography A ) Klemke, E.D. # 8220 ; The Meaning of Life # 8221 ; New York: Oxford University Imperativeness 1981, p. 166 B ) # 8220 ; Hemingway # 8221 ; Compton? s Pictured Encyclopedia, vol. GH Chicago: 1957 p. 378 C ) Hemingway, Ernest # 8220 ; The Old Man and the Sea # 8221 ; New York: Simon A ; Schuster 1995 D ) Singer, Peter # 8220 ; Applied Ethics # 8221 ; New York: Oxford University Imperativeness 1986, p. 87-88