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Santiago's Journey In The Old Man And The Sea

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The Final Journey
Dr. Seuss once wrote “I've heard there are troubles of more than one kind; some come from ahead, and some come from behind. But I've brought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see; now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” In the novella The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, the old man, became acquainted with a multitude of troubles while at sea. During his journey he met a Marlin, and struggled many days and nights with this fish, eventually ending the battle with a spear through its heart. Following that, Santiago became acquainted with the ferocious sharks, who consequently tore apart and ate the Marlin. When Santiago sailed back to shore, he then began the long, painful journey home. The religious symbolism behind events from The Old Man and the Sea, magnify Santiago and the Marlin to the extent of resembling Christ. Through the struggle, pain, and the final path leading to …show more content…

As the battle with the marlin and sharks has come to a completion, it was time to start back for home. When the old man reached shore, “he shouldered the mast and started to climb.” (Hemingway 121). In the same way in which Jesus carried his “mast”. It states in Hemingway’s novella multiple times, that Santiago tripped and fell on his path, from exhaustion, just as Christ did. When the worn and tired old man made it back home, he hung up his cross, then got in bed and, “slept face down on the newspaper with his arms out straight and the palms of his hands up.” (Hemingway 122) In the Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway made a clean point when comparing Santiago to the son of God. It states “ ‘Ay,’ he said aloud. There is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood” This is one of many other parts in the book that relate Santiago to the Messiah, during his struggles and ultimate

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