Old Man, Big Fish: A Quick Dive into The Old Man and the Sea

 Old Man, Big Fish: A Quick Dive into The Old Man and the Sea

Hey there, bookworms!

Today, I'm diving into a classic: Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. This short but powerful novel tells the tale of an aging Cuban fisherman named Santiago and his epic battle with a massive marlin. One of the most important elements of reading is that it allows each of us to react in the way we need to react, without judgment, as we experience the book. 

“He was the old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the 
same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated."

I found this uplifting and a powerful reaffirmation of what is truly important in life. This line is my personal favourite. 

"But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed 
but not defeated."

The story is pretty straightforward: Santiago's been on a losing streak, but he doesn't give up. He hooks a marlin and spends days fighting it out in the open ocean. It's a battle of wills, man vs. beast, and it's intense. The plot revolves around two days and nights when he sets out to get hold of a big fish being unable to haul it alone and getting carried by the fish until he reaches the shore.

I enjoyed reading about this character who's symbolic of resilience, loneliness, adventurous spirit and the writing is thoroughly engaging till the end. Throughout the time of reading I recall the Pi of The Life of Pi. Though both has different scenario but the consant connection between sea and the man makes me remind of that.  

I feel how the book ends leaves  the readers as how to interpret the story in their own terms, mine being the main character showed what he could do inspite of all the challenges and the constant criticism he was facing.

Santiago and Manolin are really close friends. Manolin helps Santiago out a lot, bringing him food and stuff, and cheering him up when things are tough. Santiago's friendship with Manolin gives him the strength to keep going, even when he's feeling down.

But most of the time, Santiago is alone. His wife is dead, and he lives by himself. Even though he's lonely, he doesn't let it get him down. He finds friends in other things, like the fish he sees flying around, the marlin he fights, the stars in the sky, and even the ocean itself. He talks to himself and imagines Manolin is there with him.

All these friendships, real and imagined, help Santiago stay strong and hopeful. They give him the support he needs to do something amazing, even though he's an old man. It's a natural cycle where death makes way for new life. So, even though humans and nature can sometimes fight, they're also connected in a big way.

So, people have different ideas about what the lions in the story mean. Some think they represent the wild side of nature, just like the ocean can be dangerous. But even though lions are seen as scary predators, Santiago imagines them playing instead of hunting. This shows that nature isn't always about who eats who – sometimes there's a balance and harmony.

This idea also makes us think that Santiago and the marlin aren't just enemies. They’re more like partners in a way. And when Manolin watches Santiago dream about the lions, it suggests that the lions are a symbol of youth. This reminds us that life goes in cycles, and Santiago is getting older and closer to the end of his life.

What I didn't love:

• The pacing: Some parts of the story can feel a bit slow, especially when Santiago is just drifting along in the boat.

 It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

 I'd recommend The Old Man and the Sea to anyone who enjoys a good story with strong characters and timeless themes. It's a quick read that packs a punch.

Have you read The Old Man and the Sea ? What did you think?

Let me know in the comments below!