Discussion Question 8- The Old Man and the Sea

I think the book does an ok job at reflecting events in history. I think some of the events in the book are a little to far-fetched than what would really happen in life. When Santiago is fighting the sharks single-handed, I feel like a person today would not be able to do that. Granted, Santiago did know the correct spot to hit the shark, but to use such little supplies and to have that much force, I think the book over exaggerated just a little bit. Plus, Santiago had the strength to fight off many sharks, and groups of them, so it just seemed a little too good to be true. In the book the author develops responsibilities between men and other men. The men that are in the book are all fisherman. The author uses the fisherman to show how you can never judge a book by its cover and that you have to have respect for other people. A bad luck streak means nothing because bad luck can always be turned around. Good luck can always end. So for the fisherman to judge the old man and make fun of him for trying, the underestimated what he could really do, and in the end they looked like idiots because they had no faith in the old man. The author also establishes a responsibility between man and nature. The man developed care for the fish. He started talking to the fish (Hemingway 96) and saying he was sorry that he had to die and sorry they went so far out in the sea. Even though he wanted to fish to die for his own sake, he personally connected with the fish. Also the old man connected with the sharks. He was protecting his property and what he worked so hard to achieve. I think the hard working people influenced the author. I also think the underestimated people influenced the author. Santiago was very hard working and underestimated by many other fishermen, but in the end he not only proved how hard he worked, but he gained the respect of the others (Hemingway 122).

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952