Internecine Nature Of Santiago And The Marlin

170 Words1 Pages
Conclusively, Hemingway utilizes the internecine nature of Santiago and the marlin’s relationship to convey the value of internal growth through suffering in The Old Man and the Sea. The battle that Santiago and the marlin face is mutually harmful, but not equally destructive. Although the marlin is the epitome of an ideal opponent to Santiago, it is unable to escape death completely and is overcome in the final hour. His physical wounds act as a temporary reminder of his struggle, but his emotional wounds express the significance of his hardship and form impenetrable scars that fortify his being. Without the marlin and the close battle it perpetuated, Santiago would have never known the true value of scars or been given a greater appreciation