Old Man Marlin

In the novel, “The Old man and the Sea” is full of symbolism that enhances both the plot and the themes, the major symbol in the story is the sea, which stands for all of life, which man must sail, and there are many more themes that hidden beneath the story. Some of them are gifts to be treasured and some are problems to be defeated. Neither will be found unless man leaves on a journey. If man is lucky enough to discover a treasure, which could be, love, family or education, he must fight until death to get it. Sometimes a man is unlucky and discovers an evil underneath the surface of the sea, which could be, any of life’s problems, and he must fight it until the end. In either case, it is the struggle that is important, and a man gains the position of being a hero when he battles the sea, life. In the book, Santiago goes this sea journey, life, and picks up on a giant marlin, the treasure. He battles to earn the treasure and then he fights the sharks, which would be the problems, to save it. The

In a large portion of the book, Santiago is pulled by this marlin, and yet he does not know what it is or even what it looks like. The old man can only imagine the marlins power, size, strength, and determination, yet he still identifies with it. When the old man actually sees the fish, he is even more amazed at its amazingness and size. The fish is also a symbol of Christianity, and the author, Hemingway uses the marlin with many Christian virtues: kindness, patience, and determination. Although the fish is hooked by Santiago, the marlin does not panic. Instead, it tries to guide its follower, to win him over. The fish is also described as being a supply of food for others, a sacrifice so that others may live. The sharks, symbols of evil, eat away at the meat of the marlin. Although the sharks destroy the flesh, they cannot eat the skeleton or Santiago’s