NOTES

NOVEL OLD MAN AND SEA

BA PUNJAB UNIVERSITY

FROM

LIAQAT ALI MOHSIN LECTURER IN ENGLISH

GOVT. POST GRADUATE COLLEGE SHAKARGARH DISTT. NAROWAL

KBL ACADEMY OF ENGLISH RAILWAY ROAD SHAKARGARH

CELL: 0333-4919297

Old Man and Sea (Fight with Sharks, Sharks as a symbol of punishment, Old man as a tragic hero, What was his character flaw,)

The sharks are very significant in the novel because they represent the hostile nature. In mans life, nature supports and restricts his efforts at the same time. The sharks are also the symbol of punishment when the old man commits mistake. The old man is a tragic hero who fights for his survival. On the eighty fifth day, he hooks a big marlin. He goes too far into the sea on the day. Nothing . . . I went out too far. But he commits a hamartia of injuring the marlin and going very deep into the sea. He stabs the marlin and makes the blood ooze out. It invites the sharks. The sharks are also test of Santiagos patience and determination. He fights against them until his end. He tries his best to save marlin but to no avail. Their attack is very severe and they take the whole flesh of the marlin. Only the skeleton of marlin remains. First attack is of a mako shark. Its teeth are like human fingers. It takes forty pounds of flesh. Santiago attacks with his harpoon but the shark takes it with the rope. He repeats that a man can be destroyed but not defeated. The second attack is done by two shovel-nosed sharks. Santiago fights with his knife bound with an oar. He kills both of them but they eat one quarter of the fish. Now, he realizes his mistake of injuring the marlin and going very deep into the sea. Then another shark attacks. It takes the knife of the old man. His fight doesnt end here. It is the test of his resolutions. Two sharks attack before night fall. He fights with his club. Only half marlin remains. At midnight, a pack of sharks attacks. One of them takes his club. He fights with the tiller of the boat. He never yields before them. This time he couldnt stop the sharks from taking the whole flesh of the marlin. He hit [the shark] without hope but with resolution. CHARACTER OF MARLIN (Marlin as a wishful life, found meaning in existence during fight with marlin, Fight with marlin to very end without being despaired, marlin as a Symbol of hardship,

Santiagos attitude towards marlin, Fish is a living character with intentions and contention, Fish as symbol of ideal life, Why does he feels that fish was killing, Fish, I shall stay with you until I am dead, Role of skill in his fight ) Marlin is the symbol of livelihood and challenge of life. It is a wishful life for Santiago. He says, My big fish must be somewhere. The fish is the symbol of hope which drives mans life. It is a means to exist. The fight with marlin is the attempt to survive. He is determined to fight against it until his end because his failure is the end of life. It is the test of old mans bravery and determination. It brings out his strength, courage, love and respect. The fish is the symbol of hardships in the sea of life. Man has to fight against it. Life goes on changing. Ups and downs go side by side. But man doesnt get afraid of difficulties. He has to be determined. Santiagos struggle against marlin is symbolic. Fish, I'll stay with you until I am dead. He doesnt lose hope. Though he is week, yet he is determined. He is never despaired in his fight against marlin. It's silly not to hope. It's a sin. Old mans attitude is very natural against the fish and considers it his friend. It symbolizes an ideal life. After getting it, he would be happy, prosperous and rich. Fish , "I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends. The marlin is a living character. It shows emotions and feelings. The old man understands her movements as he is a skillful fisherman. He goes deep into the sea. He puts bait one hundred fathom deep and hooks a big marlin. He is unable to pull it and goes with the fish. The old man bears the strain of the line with his shoulders, back, and hands to give slack to it. This continues for three days. The old man gets his hands wounded with the cord. He makes the fish tired on third day. He wounds it with harpoon and binds it with his skiff.

SYMBOLISM IN OLD MAN AND SEA Symbolism is a literary technique. It means that something stands for some idea or quality. The old man and sea is full of symbols. It increases the scope of themes and thoughts of the reader. The symbols used in the poem are lions, dreams, DiMaggio, Manolin, marlin, sharks, hand match, Santiago, sea, sleep and imaginations. Marlin is the symbol of livelihood and challenge of life. It is a wishful life for Santiago. He is determined to fight against it until his end. It is the test of old mans bravery and determination. The dream of lions is the symbol of courage and bravery. It also reflects the excellent youth of the old man. It gives him strong impulse to continue his fight. Even at the end, the old man starts dreaming again. He starts his wishful life again after apparent defeat. The memory of hand match with a Negro is also a symbol of youth. It encourages him. DiMaggio is an American baseball champion. He gives the old man courage to win in spite of physical problems. Santiago dreams him at the day time and night. Sea is the symbol of life. Ups and downs go side by side in this life. Whereas sea gives food and means of livelihood, it is also destructive and challenging. It takes the goal of old man away. It gives success and defeat at the same time. Sharks are the symbol of hostile nature against man. They are also punishment for the old man for his mistake. He wounds the marlin. It invites the sharks. They also represent endless fight against difficult circumstances. The character of Santiago, Manolin and ending sleep of the old man have the Christian symbols of Jesus Christ, gospels of Christ and Crucifixion of Christ respectively.

Ending of the Novel ( 1. Ending2. View of the other people about end.. 3. Defeat or success of old man 4. Novel is triumph or defeat5. Christian symbol in the end6. Significance of Santiagos sleep7. Justify end

The end of the novel is very ambiguous but happy. It has many shades of interpretations. It is defeat and triumph at the same time. After a heavy fight with sharks, the old man reaches his hut. He sleeps with his arms across like Jesus Christ. The end resembles Christs position on the cross. His goal is snatched by the sharks. All his efforts ended in smoke. Only skeleton of the fish remains. He fails apparently like Jesus Christ. So, many critics believe that the ending is not justified. But success is of two types. Outer success is material while inner success is spiritual. The fight of the old man is heroic. The author wants to show that human life doesnt depend on success or failure. Its greatness lies in constant struggle and strong will power. The heroes of Hemingway are stoic. They dont consider their feelings and emotions and fight for human dignity. The old man loses his battle but never loses his heart. The ending is natural and realistic. At the end of the story he mentions, "A man is not made for defeat...a man can be destroyed but not defeated." The novel finishes with this symbolic sentence: "The old man was dreaming about lions." The change to dreams is very significant. It shows that he returns to a wishful life again. His life doesnt end with apparent defeat. The other fishermen start to believe that Santiago has caught a shark due to great size of skeleton of the marlin. Santiago also reunites with Manolin. His remarks of Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive in the end shows his philosophy. It shows the tension that exists between loss and gain, triumph and defeat, life and death. This vision of heroism is Sisyphean.

Character of Santiago (1. Heroic Spirit of old man2. Man can be destroyed but cant be defeated..3. Fish, he said softly aloud, I will stay with you until I am dead4. Fight against marlin without being despaired5.Criticism of fellow fishermen6. Old man finds meanings in existence during fight with marlin7. Every day is new day8. Santiago as an optimist9. Representative of humanity)

Santiago is the central character of the novel. The whole plot revolves around him. He has heroic spirit because he never loses his hope. It's silly not to hope. It's a sin. He is optimistic even in adversaries. He neither complains nor gives up his struggle. He remains fishless for eighty four days. He doesnt quit his efforts. He goes with a new zeal every day. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. He faces many problems but he remains determined, courageous, strong and undefeated. He remains isolated and detached from the society. The other fishermen call him salao. They laugh at him owing to his misfortune. Even his disciple leaves him in isolation. But he remains optimist. He believes in human dignity and good luck. He thinks that Luck is a thing that comes in many forms His spirits are high even on eighty-fifth day. He considers that Eighty-five is a lucky number He goes very deep into the sea. He hooks a big marlin which has an unusual size. He has becomes old. He is unable to control marlin. He feels utter loneliness. He wants the company of Manolin. In spite of his isolation and physical weakness, he continues his fight with marlin. He asserts his philosophy of life. But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated. The fight with marlin is his struggle for his existence. It is the challenge for mans survival. To encourage him, he talks to the marlin. Fish, I'll stay with you until I am dead. He is determined to kill it. Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends.

Loneliness in Old Man and Sea (Themes of loneliness, How does he fight with his loneliness? Loneliness of old man) And the night can be a dreadful time for lonely people once their loneliness has started. Hemingway: A farewell to arms The old man feels loneliness. Mostly he remains isolated from the whole community. He has no interaction with others except Manolin. He is a lonely man surrounded by the dangers and problems He desires to have company especially in his old age. After forty five unlucky days, Manolin leaves him. His isolation becomes adverse. He is considered unlucky in his community. He feels much lonely when he looks at his wifes picture. The mocking of other fishermen also shows alienation. It is a typical characteristic of Hemingways heroes. They get achievement in their isolation. Old man is as alone as Henry in farewell to arms. Santiago was sad in his loneliness when the marlin was pulling his boat. He wants someone to help him. It contributes to his apparent defeat. No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. His isolation develops when he is in the sea. He fights against his loneliness with different ways. He calls the sea creature his companion. He was happier when he saw a bird, the flying fish, hawks, green turtles, large number of dolphins and then wild ducks flying against the sky. Why did they make birds so delicate and fine as those sea swallows when the ocean can be so cruel? Secondly he remembers the boy and the baseball matches to get over his loneliness. He remembers DiMaggio to console him in his isolation. He encourages him with his dreaming of the lions playing together. Thirdly, he talks with the marlin like a friend. Fish," he said, "I love you and respect you

very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends. Santiago speaking to him symbolizes his loneliness and isolation.