Symbolism in The Old Man Of The Sea

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Name        : Bhaliya   Ravi

Roll no.     :24

M.A. Semester   : 3

Enrolment No.  :14101004

Email id      :ravibhaliya5@gmail.com

Year            : 2015-16

Paper no.     : 10 (American Literature)

Submitted to: Smt. S.B Gardi Department of English

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji

Bhavnagar University

Abstract

Old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway is a great novella with many philosophical ideas. Hemingway is very careful while portraying characters in his works. The novella is centred on one major character Santiago. As the title suggest Santiago is an old man. He is of 75 years old Cuban fisherman. Hemingway has presented the character of Santiago with strong determination will power, hope and confidence.

Hemingway has borrowed a surprisingly abundant supply of facts from his own life for his novels. The books have therefore something autobiographical about them. Something of the author's character and personality is attributed to the hero of the Hemingway novel. But in The Old Man and the Sea the identification between the author and the hero is complete: and the story is an interesting personal allegory. ( Hemigway)

What is the Symbolism

The word symbolism is derived from the Greek word “symbollein” which means ‘to throw together, mark, emblem, token or sign’. The verb symbol is an objectwhich can be animate or unanimated. Symbols represent or stand for something different. Definitively manifesto of symbolism was published in September 1886 in an article ‘le Figaro’ written by Jean Mores’. He founded the symbolist school whose members were Baudelaire, Mallarme, and Verlaine etc. Other famous followers include Reme Ghil, Griffith and Gustavo khan.

According to Oxford Dictionary

"Symbolism means use of symbols like Object, character use of figure of color to represent abstract idea concept or quality .

The element of symbolism is presented in all the works of Hemingway. However, the word symbolism came to be associated with him only after the appearance of his novel “Old man and the sea”. Hemingway’s use of symbols comes to climax in this novel. As a result,the novel is reach in symbolism images and motifs that enhance both the plot and the themes.

“In the usage of literary historian, symbolist movement designates specifically a group of French writers beginning with Charles Baudelaire”.

                                                                                                                    According to critic M.H.Abrahm

Now there might be question that what can be effective and universal symbols in literary writing. To answer the question critic J.A.Cuddon suggest that any object and action can be symbol in literary writings. EXAMPLE in literature there are many objects commonly used as symbols by writers.

1) SCALE symbol of justice2) MONARCHY symbol of rule3) DOVE symbol of peace4) A GOAT symbol of lust5) THE LION symbol of strength and courage6) THE ROSE symbol of beauty7) THE LILY symbol of purity8) CROSS symbol of christianity9)THE SWASIKA Nazi in German10) BLOOD mourn and violence

Symbolism is an essential literary device used by Ernest Hemingway in his book the old man and the sea. Hemingway uses numerous forms of symbolism but a recurring contour id biblical allusion. Hemingway filled this story with biblical allusion to create a deeper meaning within the text. Knowing biblical allusion allows a reader to have wider perspective of the story.

      

Sea as Symbol

The Sea represents the Universe and Santiago's isolation in the Universe.  The Sea represent challenge and endless “NATURE. The sea is presented as ROMANTICIZED and FEMININE both “Cruel and Cleansing. The symbolism of sea is also describe as water, clear water is extremely good and signifies clear thinking. The sea also symbolizes the swimming like swimming in dreams.

The major symbol used by Hemingway in distinctive way is the wide sea. This sea is symbol of life itself. Man has to sail either it is sea or life to go through. According to Hemingway, in both the sea and in life, there are many possibilities and similarities that the eye cannot see. The first similarity between them is that, both the sea and life are full of mystery, surprise, shock and challenge. However man has to fight bravely and nobly until the end.

Accordingly, it the man is lucky enough, and then he may discover treasure from sea. Likewise if the man is lucky then he will gain love, good family, peace and education. However, if he is unlucky than he may not find even single small fish from the greatest and wide sea. Same case with life .If the person is unfortunate then he struggle and suffer, a lot even for one time meal. However, either it is like or sea, man has to embark journey and go through it amid all possible odes.

For example Santiago

goes for eighty four days without a single fish but

he does not give up. He even continues his journey on eighty fifth days and

brings a giant Marlin which shows his victory.

The Lions

Lions are the symbol  of youth, Freedom and Strength. The novella begins with the dream of Santiago whose dream of the lion on the beach. lion represent a hunter that is wild, noble and manly, the King of that particular environment. The lions are a symbol from Santiago’s childhood, he remembers seeing them on the beach in Africa when he sailed there in his youth.  The lions symbolize Santiago's lost youth as well as his pride.

Hemingway has presented lions. They are little cubs who symbolize youthful possibility and great thing to come Santiago often dreams lion playing on African beach. The image of them always makes Santiago happy. They have his good company just like mandolin. The appearance of lion suggests great strength, nobility, aspiration, victory and ambition.

According to the novelist Hemingway,

“He no longer dreamed of storms, or of woman, nor of accordance nor of

great fish… did he only dream of places now and then lion on the beach.”

Santiago’s dreams of lion suggest circular nature of life and harmony between two opposite force like death, love and hate, destruction and regeneration of nature

The Marlin

Marlin symbolized strength and durability and putting up such struggle. Marlin represents both the perseveration of man´s social status and his incessant life powers.  Santiago considered Marlin’s power equal to him and called him brother . The sharks run parallel to the fisherman in the novel who judge Santiago harshly. Marlin also represent the “MIRROR IMAGE” of Old man.

Marlin a magnificent and glorious fish symbolizes the mysterious world of sea which is full of surprise and challenge. Secondly, the marlin symbolizes the ideal and worthily opponent. Even Santiago find shim lucky  to match against a creature like marlin because it is his battle with marlin that brings out the best in him. Santiago realizes his strength, courage, love and respect due to marlin  Thirdly, it is only due to marlin, both Santiago and even we realize the unexpected world of sea. Santiago is shocked when he realize marlin’s size power and determination. He is pulled by marlin for a large portion.

A part from this, marlin is even presented as a Christian allegory. Marlin is as calm and cool as lord as Jesus was. Though it is hooked by Santiago, it is not attacked on him instead of tries to guide its followers to win him over. Moreover marlin is also described as s great source of food for other. It means it sacrifices itself so that other may live and survive. However the sheiks are in great contrast to marlin. The shoved nose shark has attacked the marlin thoughtlessly. They symbolize the destructive force of the universe. They stand for evil.

Symbol of Skiff

The skiff  symbol of Santiago himself, as Santiago struggle in his life, the skiff also have to struggle in the sea The skiff also symbol of the defeated human beings.

The Harpoon

Santiago lost his harpoon as he finds a shark, symbolic of individual who lose their faith as life’s goes attack. Much like Santiago without harpoon, those without faith are defenceless. The lost harpoon is symbol of loss of power, strength, virility, pride. Santiago loses his harpoon-the first of many such losses as he continues a futile battle with sharks.

The Mast

The mast is symbol of cross of Jesus. The mast is an obvious allusion of cross of Jesus. It is on his skiff, where stands the mast, that Santiago suffer. Santiago suffers at sea for three days with painful injury to the palm of his hand and his back.

The Manolin

  

Santiago’s young friend represents hope. Although Manolin’s father prohibits him from fishing with Santiago. Who is believed to be cursed, Manolin never abandons him emotionally. It can be argued however that as Santiago fishes without hopes. The 84 day fishless streak attests to it.  Menolin is very symbolic character  .“The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him”- symbolizes as a Christ and one of his disciple.

Between Manolin and Old man there is vast age differences between them its symbolizes their skill of fishing.  Manolin is the symbol of hope . Manolin would take care of the old man when he said to him "Keep warm old man.  Remember we are in September.

Symbolic use of number    

      

  

The numeric symbolism in the novel ‘’the old man and the sea’’ seen to be religious. Numbers of figure like three, seven, forty and eighty five have special significant I the bible.

Example when the novel opens, we come to know that Santiago has unsuccessfully fished for forty days. This figure is considered unlucky in the bible

Then Santiago’s fight with great fish marlin lasts for three days. Thus figure symbolizes struggle in the bible. There is reference to figure eighty five which is considered to be lucky and good figure. Even Santiago remarks.

“Eighty five is a lucky number’’

Santiago Symbol of Crucification and Chritianity 

Many times, stories by Hemingway have much religious influence and symbolism. In the old man and the sea, by Ernest Hemingway, numerous occurrences in the life of Santiago the fisherman are similar to the incident recorded in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The names of the character translated from Spanish to English are just one of those many similarities.

In the story, there are many references to the crucifixion of Jesus. Santiago’s badly injured hand evokes the hands of the crucified Jesus and three other situations reinforce this theory first, Santiago’s marlin is approached by a pair of shovel nosed sharks.

Example Santiago’s

suffering and pain reminds use of Christ’s suffering. In the very

beginning when his palms are cut by fishing lines and at last when he collapses on his 

bed, at that time, we remind of the image of Christ suffering on the cross.

Santiago sacrificed his in the story to catch fish. Fish has been referred to as the Christian faith. This could build a larger connection that Jesus sacrificed his flash to catch the faith of his people and Sheppard them to enlightenment. Santiago also has similar process as to catching the fish. Santiago has deeper personal meaning of fishing and this is why he does not s how off his fish like the rest of the fish.

The old man and the sea is biblical allusion. There are multiple themes that the core of this book. An example that has been illustrated by Ernest Hemingway is Santiago being like Jesus. This shows that the story is biblical allusion. Overall throughout the book fish is the main catalyst of biblical allusion of Christianity. Finally the example of Santiago and his self-sacrifice create a more precise system of moral dignity.

Personal Allegory

The novel old man and the sea can be read as personal parable and a universal allegory. Hemingway has given biographical touch to the character of Santiago which brings personal allegory in the novel. Santiago serves as a metaphor for the creative artist like Hemingway. There is similarity between them.

To wind up

This novella, the symbolism has far deeper significance. The book is representation of life as struggle against unconquerable force of nature. In this novella Hemingway symbolized person , place or thing to represent the real meaning of his writing   In every day struggle of old man there is deep meaning behind it. Hemingway is very much connected with the nature .

(Sinha, P. K)

 (Sinha, P. K)Works Cited

Sinha, P. K. (n.d.). Earnest Hemingway. In A History of American Literature (p. 331 to 335).

  

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