Hemingway Marlin Essay

511 Words3 Pages

Hemingway uses many symbolic structures in this story but shown repeatedly with importance was the marlin, sea, and Joe DiMaggio. Within the story the marlin is a great example to represent masculinity. The sea is another symbol expressing femininity. The last symbol Hemingway displays was Joe DiMaggio, as hope and inspiration set out to be unbeatable. Hemingway uses the marlin, sea, and DiMaggio to convey deeper meanings because he expresses the best of him through the ultimate challenge with no help and recognition. Within the story the marlin represented masculinity. Masculinity was shown throughout the marlin as a threat and one of Santiago's biggest challenges. “He took the bait like a male and he pulls like a male and his fight has no panic in it. I wonder if he has any plans or if he is just as desperate as I am”(Hemingway, 2017, p. 63). This quote examines how the fish had control when him and Santiago remained locked in a battle for 3 days. The marlin was not letting Santiago have control causing the marlin to take over more like a man would. The marlin then is becoming the challenge to Santiago which then he has to overcome. …show more content…

Santiago views the sea as a female being beautiful and cruel. The sea is the feminine complement to his masculinity. “But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help with”(Hemingway, 2017, p. 30). This quote shows how the sea is standing in Santiago’s way of endless “nature”, or wicked things within it that’s uncontrollable like a female. Even though a woman can be lovable she can make you feel loathsome as well sometimes. This relates as Santiago loves fishing as being a pleasure but there are challenges and conflict that he has to overcome. Therefore, the sea is portraying femininity as it is both cruel and cleansing to