How does the marlin transcend his death

Revision For A Research Paper On OLD MAN AND SEA

When the teacher sent the paper back requesting revisions, here is what he said:
1. Take out the things about the other books.
2. So what he wants is to STICK to the book itself.
- add more details from the book in order to make the point and to prove the thesis.
- add more QUOTES from the book.
- link everything back to the thesis statement.

The Old man and the Sea: Man’s Resolve to Survive within Nature

The theme of man’s struggle with nature is one that has been addressed by many writers. Most writers choose to depict man as battling against natural forces in his quest for survival. However, Ernest Hemingway shows man’s relationship with nature in a new angle. He opts to illustrate man’s survival within nature, as opposed to against it. In The Old Man and the Sea, man’s struggle is well within the confines of natural laws, where the relationship between man, natural beings, and natural forces follows the right orders of nature. Santiago, the main character, is used by Hemingway to depict man’s interaction with nature, and his resolve to fight for survival within the natural world. The eternal law states that man must either kill or be killed, and Santiago is fully aware of this fact. He is determined to break his losing streak, despite the fact that he is old and weak. After being captured by the marlin at sea, his determination to conquer is strong as he struggles with it for two days and nights. After finally winning the fight, he unsuccessfully fights against sharks, which end up devouring the marlin, leaving only its skeleton. Santiago’s actions display his will for survival within the forces of nature, a natural instinct processed by any living being. He goes on to show that man’s resolve to survive within nature is fueled by pride and greatness.

It is within man’s nature to transcend obstacles that are beyond his strength so as to accomplish his target. As seen in the story, Santiago’s battle is not one of physical strength, but one of will. Though frail, he refuses to accept his unlucky streak, and instead ventures far out into the stream in the hope that he will change his luck. This is despite the fact that the Gulf Stream, which is a force of nature, is a hindrance to the attainment of his dreams. Santiago struggles against the marlin for two days and nights, refusing to let go of the line. His strong will is portrayed by his words,” Fish, I’ll stay with you until I’m dead” (52). Only death can stand in his way of victory. His resolve to win against the fish is far much greater than the reality of death.

Tired and wounded, Santiago is finally able to bring in the marlin. However, the sharks constantly attack Santiago, leaving only a skeleton as remains of the great fish. Santiago knows that he cannot succeed in the great fight against the sharks, but he is determined not to let go of his catch. He uses simple tools to club the sharks’ heads, showing that he might not have the resources to ward off the attack, but his unrelenting resolve to bring the fish on land is still strong.

What he lacks in physical strength, he makes up for with a strong will. The mighty fish is quite strong, and Santiago even recognizes it as a "worthy opponent" (108). However, the fish lacks the will to win the battle. In contrast, Santiago is motivated by something greater than saving his life, he is determined to recover his pride as a worthy fisherman. In his own words, Santiago remarks “a man is not made for defeat, [a] man can be destroyed but not defeated.” (103).

Santiago’s relentlessness is not unseen in the current world, as it can be related to the fight against gender disparity in the corporate world. Wajcman, a professor at London School of Economics, states that in the near past, women were assigned menial roles in an organization. Their fight to overcome discrimination and biasness was not easy, as they had to prove that they could accomplish the same things as men. However, the battle still rages on, as though women have been accepted as being equal to men, they are still expected to manage issues the same way as men, without considering the fact that their biological make up is different, and their methods of management should therefore be accepted as being different. Considering these facts, Santiago’s situation is not so different from the situation faced by women in the world today. They both have limitations that seem to be beyond them, but they are relentless in their quest to accomplish their dreams.

In the current world today, there is a constant competition between men themselves, men and animals, and men and natural forces. The competition between men entails who has better grades, who is a better sportsman, who can accomplish a task faster, among others. The victorious man feels a sense of pride for having done what other men are unable to do. Man also tests his strength against animals. In the past, man would go to hunt for food, proving his greatness over the beasts. Due to easier access to food in today's world, man proves his greatness over animals through sports competitions such as arm wrestling and tugs of war. In matters concerning man’s competition against natural forces, human beings test their strength against forces such as wind, fire, and water. This is portrayed by games such as windsurfing and fire-fighting sports. It is only a resilient person who can be able to compete against strong natural forces.

Coutu (50), describes resilient people as people who are able to use resources at their disposal to mitigate against the challenges that they might be facing. She states that their unending determination to overcome obstacles is what makes them different from the others. Though they may have weaknesses, they are motivated to overcome them so that they can accomplish their goals. The description provided by Coutu clearly fits Santiago. Though he is physically weak, he is determined to prove to himself and to others that he can overcome adversity. He is motivated to prove to his apprentice Manolin that he can break his bad luck, despite the fact that other people do not believe in him, and have warned Manolin to stay away from him.

Competition for greatness is depicted by Hemingway, who shows that human beings look for a worthy opponent for a fight to show their own greatness. This quality of greatness is highlighted when Santiago tells Marlin, “If Durocher had continued to come here each year your father would think him the greatest manager” (90). This shows that even among men, greatness is a positive quality to possess. Manolin considers the old man to be greater than baseball legends. He tells him, “and the best fisherman is you” (136).

The old man intends to prove his greatness among men by fighting against the fish. He regards the fish as a great being, and believes that by overpowering it, he will become even greater. He is willing to die so as to bring the marlin on shore, and that is why he does not relent in his fight against the giant fish. Although Santiago is unable to prevent the sharks from feeding on the marlin, he does not let go of the fish. Though weak, hungry, and exhausted, his pride to prove himself is stronger than his fear of the sharks. Santiago says, “ You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman” (104).

Man’s relationship with other beings should be based on mutual respect

Hemingway believes that man’s relationship with nature as well as with other beings should be based on mutual respect. Santiago recognizes special qualities in people, animals, and even nature. He even respects Manolin, though he is far much younger than him. When Manolin offers to carry his gear, he declines saying, “We’re different...I let you carry things when you were five years old” (13). This shows that Manolin’s advancement in age has earned him Santiago’s respect.

In another instance, he says of the marlin, “...What a great fish he is...he took the bait like a male and he pulls like a male and his fight has no panic in it” (91). He talks of the fish with a tone of reverence. He respects it for his fight against him. The old man also respects nature. He says this of the sea, “but the old man always thought of her as something that gave or withheld great favors, and if she did wicked things it was because she could not help them” (30). He seems to have an understanding of the sea. He talks about it lovingly, as one would talk of a person, almost a lover, not merely an inanimate feature.

Jansson(12), holds a similar view concerning the relationship between man and nature. He states that the relationship between the two should be mutual, as both stand to benefit from each other. Olsson, Rockstrom, and Carpenter (718-736), emphasize on the need for a human reconnection with nature. Just like Jansson, they emphasize on the need for a mutual relationship between man and the environment. They state that the only time that man should be in conflict with nature is when his survival is at stake. In reference to Hemingway’s story, Santiago is depicted as a man who understands that both humans and animals have a place within the society. Santiago shows an impeccable understanding of nature. He understands the birds, the fish, as well as the sea. He is forced by circumstances to hunt down the fish, as the animal is his only ticket of fending for himself and proving his worth as a great fisherman.

Man constantly struggles against the forces of life and death. In the battle between Santiago and the marlin, it was evident that one of them had to die so that the other could last. Man’s actions can either lead to his destruction or his regeneration. The marlin’s carcass is devoured and destroyed by the sharks, but Santiago’s spirit is rejuvenated as he has accomplished a great feat. Santiago’s resilience can be said to have given him a new life. In a study conducted by Shen and Zeng, the authors draw a correlation between resilience and survival. They describe resilience as an adaptation within the men's nature of adversity. They performed tests on the Chinese elderly which indicated that they all had traits associated with resilience. It was concluded that their resilience resulted in their longevity as they were able to overcome natural and social barriers to reach their old age. Another study on resilience was conducted by Martin and Macdonald, who observed that an individual’s personal resilience, cognitive resilience, and economic resilience, will determine their longevity.

In reference to Santiago, his resilience results in his longevity as he was able to save his life from the battle with the marlin, and he was able to earn a positive social standing among fellow fishermen. His personal resilience to wander far away from the normal fishing zones, hold on to a raging animal for two days and nights, and to fight off the sharks that were determined to capture his prey, shows that he overcame natural forces. He also had cognitive resilience as he was able to plan and execute his mission. Finally, it can be noticed that he was economic resilient as he was able to stay for many days without catching fish, but he still had hope that his economic situation would change if he was to capture a prized fish.

The forces of youth and old age produce different results as demonstrated by Santiago's youth. In his youth, Santiago was able to fight off lions in Africa with ease, while his old body is now too weak to fight against natural forces. In the past, Santiago was a champion who won fishing conquests and boxing matches. He is now reduced to an old man who cannot catch a single fish for months. Santiago is rejuvenated through the capture of the marlin. Hemingway says,"he was asleep in a short while and he dreamed of Africa when he was a boy and the long golden beaches and the white beaches…" (150). After his triumph, his dreams take him back to his youth, showing that he has been accorded a youthful aspect, almost as if he has been given a new lease in life. Towards the end of the story, man's continuity is depicted by Manolin’s attachment to the old man, as they plans to go fishing in future. The old man’s skills and knowledge are transferred down to the young man, showing the never ending life cycle between youth and the old.

In a normal setting, Santiago’s actions of trying to prove himself as a worthy opponent to the forces of nature would result in reproach. However, Hemingway does not condemn Santiago for being proud. On the contrary, he regards pride as an essential quality for survival. Santiago is regarded as a hero for his actions. Without pride, the quest for breaking his bad luck would not have been accomplished. Santiago’s resolve to fight against bigger forces is mentioned throughout the novel.

Ryff (13), attributes resilience to self-realization. She states that it is only through self-discovery that one can be aware of strengths and weaknesses that they may have, and how to utilize them to achieve resilience. Hemingway shows that Santiago has undergone a process of self-discovery,and is proud of himself and his abilities. He is aware of his strengths and limits, and he uses them to his advantage. For example, he knows that he has skills as a fisherman to be able to go beyond the normal fishing zones. As such, he knows that he has the ability to capture the marlin and has the endurance to persevere his pain. When he has hold of the marlin, he says, “I must hold his pain where it is...mine does not matter, I can control mine” (29). Furthurmore, he recognizes his physical weakness due to his old age, and is aware that he only has one chance of proving himself. As a result, he does not let go of the fish for two days, neither does he allow the sharks to rob him of his catch, as he knows that he is too frail to try the re-attempt the venture.

In an article addressing human resilience, Kassam (5), states that survival is determined by one’s sensitivity to culture, and to the natural habitat. He refers to change as a natural process of human nature and the environment. He also believes that for a human being to survive, he should learn to accept change and embrace it. He introduces the term pluralism, which he refers to as bio-cultural diversity. According to him, a person can only be assured of his survival when he incorporates pluralism.

Hemingway shows the difference in resilience between a young man and an old man. Santiago’s physical frame has changed, as he is no longer able to perform the tasks he used to accomplish as a young man. However, he does not allow that to deter him, and he is determined to go over his comfort zone so as to change his unlucky streak. In his old age, he catches the biggest fish he has ever seen, something he was never able to do as a young man. He says, “Never have I had such a strong fish nor one who acted so strangely” (48). Old age has bestowed upon him skills and determination, which have led to his attainment of pluralism, something that he lacked during his youth.

The relationship between man and nature has always been thought of as being confined within the borders of conflicts, where man has to battle nature so as to continue existing. However, Santiago depicts that relationship in a new light. He refers to the story as “The Old Man and the Sea”, showing that the old man has a corollary relationship with the sea, which is not marred by conflict, but by a deep respect and understanding. Hemingway shows that there is a place for all beings within nature, but the dominant being has an advantage over lesser beings. Ultimately, it all comes down to survival, where survival is not determined by physical strength, but determined by the one with the strongest will to live.

Works Cited

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Coutu, Diane L. "How Resilience Work." UWP. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. .

Forke, Carl. "Reconnecting to the Biosphere." Ambio Nov. 2011: n. pag. Print.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. N.p.: Scribner's, 1952. Print.

Jansson, Asa. "Reaching for a Sustainable, Resilient Urban Future using the Lens of Ecosystem Services." Ecological Economics. N.p.: n.p., 2013. 285-91. Science Direct. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. .

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Ryff, Carol D. "Self-Realisation and Meaning Making in the Face of Adversity." Journal of Psychology in Africa 24.1 (2014): 1-12. Taylor Francis Online. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. .

Zeng, Wei. The Association between Resilience and Survival among Chinese Elderly. Beijing: n.p., 2010. NCBI. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. .