Man Overcoming Great Obstacles Essay - 908 Words

Some believe to live is to suffer, and in Hemingway’s â€Å"The Old Man And The Sea† this philosophy is dealt with and viewed in many situations. In this poignant short novel Ernest Hemingway beautifully illustrates the trials and tribulations of everyday man, through Santiago’s struggle at sea. The old man’s adventure with the marlin is one of loss, pride, and achievement all combined into one emotional fight for life itself. Hemingway’s use of allegory in â€Å"The Old Man And The Sea† establishes many deeper aspects that man struggles with in everyday life. The numerous hardships and battles Santiago encounters on the sea can be viewed as conflicts man is forced to deal with in his lifetime. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A use of symbolism†¦show more content†¦This represents the fact that in life one must move on and put great effort into tasks that are seemingly impossible when done independently. The absence of Manolin places emphasis on dealing with struggle when man has little to fight with. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As Hemingway uses other figures to establish struggle, he also utilizes Santiago’s inner thoughts as symbolism. In amidst the battle at sea with the old man and the marlin he has a great revelation. This excerpt is Santiago’s opinion on his battle with the fish â€Å"But he seems calm, he thought, and following his plan. But what is his plan, he thought. And what is mine? Mine I must improvise because of his great size. If he will jump I can kill him. But he stays down forever. Then I will stay down with him forever.†2. This quote is an excellent summation of one of the main ideals of â€Å"The Old Man And The Sea†. Through allegory Hemingway establishes the fact that life is unpredictable. Santiago cannot predict the marlin’s actions; therefore he considers possible scenarios and his reactions to them. This is similar to how in life one cannot truly know the actions of other people, but one only knows his own actions. This quote also shows how in life a person receives both the good and the bad. In one scenario the fish would jump and be caught, but in another the fish would stay down forever as would the old man â€Å"The Old Man And The Sea†Show MoreRelated Characteristics of a Hero Essay533 Words   |  3 Pagesalways about your popularity or talent it can also be about how you help society. What I think make a great hero is someone who is able to overcome his or her obstacles in life, is highly motivated, and has plenty of bravery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Overcoming obstacles may be one of the hardest parts of being a hero. I think it’s the hardest because a lot of people are blocked from doing something and just quit. A great example of this trait is Jackie Robinson. 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