Hafiz Ashfaq Ahmed 1 0300-9461951

DiMaggio A Great Source Of Inspiration For The Old Man.

Hemingway's novel 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a shining example of human
valour, self reliance and endurance. Its hero, the old man went out in the deep sea
alone and succeeded in hooking a big marlin. The marlin was too strong for him and
he could not haul it to the surface of the sea. The fish started dragging the old man
along with his boat. The old man decided to defeat this powerful creature with his
skill and experience.

The struggle with the marlin continued for two days and nights. During this time the
old man got dead tired and his hands were badly injured. He did not think of giving
up the struggle. He decided to boost up his morale by reviving his past victories and
recalled his historic hand game competition with a Negro. Then he tried to feel
strong by remembering of his hero Joe DiMaggio, the base-ball champion.
DiMaggio was a great player and a remarkable leader. DiMaggio always proved to
be a deciding factor for his team and brought it victories. This champion of base-ball
played neatly and skillfully in spite of the pain of a bone spur in his heel. Moreover,
the old man's admiration for DiMaggio owed to another factor, as DiMaggio was
born of a fisherman.

By reviving his hero, the old man tried to collect his strength and managed to endure
the great pain. He prayed to be worthy of his hero. He says to himself, "Pain does
not matter to man." In this way the old man minimized his sense of loneliness and
stimulated his falling courage.

The writer in fact wanted to show, how age and miseries of life waste human energies and
weaken the vigorous one yet cannot dampen the courage. Thus the main theme of the novel
is also proved by mentioning DiMaggio's importance that Man is not made for defeat.

231-E, E Block, Rehmanpura, Wahdat Road, Lahore. Ph. 042-37503014

 Hafiz Ashfaq Ahmed 2 0300-9461951

1. Tide over:
I could not tide over my feelings.
2. To split hair:
He is in the habit of splitting hair for nothing.
3. To make no bones about:
He makes no bones about doing anything.
4. Set apart:
He set apart some money for new house.
5. Come to:
He fainted but soon came to.
6. Vest in:
The power to declare war is vested in the Senate.
7. Damocles' sword:
Atomic war is a Damocles' sword for the Sub continent.
8. Gift of the gab:
A politician should have gift of the gab.
9. Stand on ceremony:
Please do not stand on ceremony.
10. A fishy story:
His story appears like a fishy story.
11. Make a bee line for:
They made a bee line for the house when they heard about the arrival of their master.
12. Play upon:
He can play upon the flute.
13. As the crow flies:
The boys ran as the crow flies.
14. House of cards:
His plan failed like a house of cards.
15. Knock about:
He spent six months knocking about before coming here.
16. Keep one's fingers crossed:
I kept my fingers crossed that my proposal will be accepted.

231-E, E Block, Rehmanpura, Wahdat Road, Lahore. Ph. 042-37503014