The Old Man and the Sea
Book - 1980
- Details
- Full Record
- Additional Info
Searching for more content…
Searching for more content…0684182270
HEMINGWA E
Opinion
From Library Staff
From Library Staff
The sea is very much a character in this short novel, the last major work of fiction by Hemingway published during his lifetime. Considered one of his most famous works and awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1954, the book tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, who struggle... Read More »
Hemingway's tale of an aged Cuban fisherman's battle with a giant marlin, far out in the Gulf Stream. The basis for a major motion picture starring Spencer Tracy.
BostonPL_EileenS
May 12, 2018
Hemingway's classic tale of an aged Cuban fisherman's battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. The basis for a major motion picture starring Spencer Tracy.
From the critics
Community Activity
Age
Add Age Suitabilitytrevordunfordswife thinks this title is suitable for 10 years and over
Jian Feng Wang thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 10 and 99
Summary
Add a SummaryQuotes
Add a Quote"'But a man is not made for defeat', he said. 'A man can be destroyed but not defeated.'"
Comment
Add a CommentA reflection of life, old age, and the experience and wisdom gained along the way are explored in Hemingway's tale of the seemingly humble Santiago, an elder fisherman and his fight with a great fish. A poor fisherman, half crazy and down on his luck, Santiago's true character is revealed, giving insight into remarkable fisherman, an in-depth analysis of the unseen qualities, reflection of long-life and his wealth of experience. Initially seeing the fisherman as foolhardy or even inept old man, the reader is shown how age brings a perspective of life beyond what the inexperienced are aware, and how the continually evolving human perception changes and grows over time.
This meditative short story by American novelist Ernest Hemingway asks the reader to consider themes of aging, the dignity of work, and pride. Like the ocean hides many creatures, Santiago's fishing expedition contains more that can be seen at surface level.
The Old Man and the Sea describes the harsh and brutal elements that Santiago, a fisherman, must endure to continue doing the thing he loves the most, fishing. Santiago is an old fisherman who longs to catch a fish as he had failed to catch one for eighty-four days which results in Manolin, a young boy, to leave him for another boat per his father’s request. On the eighty-fifth day, an epic battle takes place between the old, seasoned fisherman and what would be the greatest catch of his life. Throughout the battle, Santiago’s determination and faith are put to the test.
This novel is definitely one that I enjoyed reading because of the emotional turmoil that Santiago goes through throughout the classic novella. It is a drastic change from the typical fiction novel that is common today as it tells of a one-of-a-kind relationship between a fisherman and a young boy. My main critique is the advanced comprehension that the reader must have in order to fully understand the entire plot. Because of this, I would not recommend this to the average reader, but I would definitely advise an avid reader to read the book from cover to cover.
- Age Rating: 10+
1954 nobel prize literature
I realize this book is a classic and all that jazz, but to be quite frank it was boring. I wouldn't recommend it to the average person.
A classic novella that tells one specific story very well. The detail is gripping and emotional. You really root for the old man and feel sympathy when he is in pain. Bittersweet and just. The ending raised the rating for me.
In the beginning and towards the end the unique relationship between the old man and the boy is great. But this kind of style is not for me, I find parts in the book a bit boring.
S, you don’t have any luck fishing for 84 days… so when you finally hook a big fish, you let it pull you three days out into the blue wilderness, though you keep getting scraped up and don’t have a lot of food and get really sore. Crazy right? I would have let go as soon as I couldn’t see my town anymore. But Santiago was desperate, or determined. But anyway, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to. Don’t let its simple writing style make you think that it IS simple; it has a lot of symbolism- the most common being that Santiago is a Christ-figure: BELIEVE ME, ONE DOES NOT ACCIDENTALLY PLACE SO MANY LOGICAL SYMBOLS INTO THE SAME LITTLE BOOK!
I mean, Hemingway was contradictory. Take these examples:
“My training was never to drink after dinner nor before I wrote nor while I was writing.” But he also says, “Write drunk; edit sober.”
And:
“The first draft of anything is s***” “The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof s*** detector.” “”There isn’t any symbolism… All the symbolism that people say is s***.” But he also says “All our words from loose usage have lost their edge.”
So, there is my argument that there IS symbolism in The Old Man and The Sea. Now, on to the analysis:
Read more at https://diaryofanerdybookworm.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/the-old-man-and-the-sea/
I read this as a child growing up in Southern California. We went deep sea fishing most weekends for albacore, swordfish, and sailfish. This may be the most powerfully moving book of the sea I’d ever read. Now, 50 years later, it’s just as moving. Read the book then watch Spencer Tracy in the movie. It’ll change your life!
I love this novel. Brought it with me on a fishing trip this time. There are a lot of themes in this story - aging, pride, the value of one's guile, simple pleasures, etc. But ultimately it is also about "catching the big one." Everyone who loves to fish should read this novel.