Santiago in the Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

People sometimes find themselves engulfed in chaotic circumstances, often discover these moments to be stressful, and always leave the situations bursting with pain. Following principles of honor, courage, and endurance in atmospheres consisting of chaos, stress, and pain differentiates an average person from a Hemingway code hero. Santiago, the main character from Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, masters life and its cruel problems during anarchic situations by never showing his emotions and constantly proving his abilities. Santiago, a Cuban fisherman, faces an agonizing battle on the sea of life lasting three days with a huge marlin that symbolizes life's treasure. After the marlin jerks forward in the water and forces the line to Slit Santiago's hand, Santiago remarks, "You're feeling it now, fish... And 50, God knows, am I,".

Most people in this situation would cringe if they felt the excruciating pain that the marlin spreads through Santiago's body. Similarly, they would quit their pursuit of the enormous creature because the marlin's stubbornness, physical dues, and emotional taxes have enraged them. Santiago's physical and emotional suffering could be a scapegoat if he chooses to pity his situation, but his heroic ability to remain calm under pressure allows Santiago to accept this unfortunate event, to pursue his dreams, and to reach his goals. Although he is very experienced, Santiago is an aging fisherman who is going through an eighty-four-day period without catching a fish. Thinking that Santiago has forever lost his touch, the parents of Santiago’s apprentice decide to force their son Manolin to abandon his mentor and work for a successful fisherman because they believe their son is wasting his precious time.

Hinting that Santiago has endured a block of time similar to the present one, Manolin states, “But what about the eight-seven of your great record". Withstanding failure on occasion is an inescapable obstacle in life that people must tackle. Moreover, the feeling of failure that Santiago constantly experiences in his life would discourage a run—of—the—mill individual and presumably compel him or her to terminate his dreams and goals. Nonetheless, successfully hindering life from devouring him vindicates Santiago’s abilities. This experienced fisherman's awareness of his skills and aspiration to distinguish his expertise influences his desire to continue moving forward in his life. Continually concealing his emotions and proving his capabilities allows Santiago to conquer life and its puzzles.

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For example, after Santiago completes his multiple-day journeys and arrives back at the shore without his prized marlin, he returns to his shack and falls asleep: "Up the road, in his shack, the old man was sleeping again. He was still sleeping on his face and the boy was sitting by him watching him. The old man was dreaming about the lions” . Instead of mourning the loss of a record-breaking marlin or abandoning his boat forever, Santiago brushes the past events off his shoulder to prepare for the new possibilities that await him the following day. Providing him with feelings of victory and success, the lions in the old man's dream replenish his spirits with strength and nobility.

By depicting his capacity to fight for a desire, to convey grace under pressure, and to persist regardless of a task's size, Santiago conquers life and its obstacle course. Hemingway's allegorical use of the sea, the sharks, and the marlin to symbolize life, immorality, and treasure forces Santiago to demonstrate his ability to shield his emotions and to continue to move in a forward direction. Additionally, the old man's brave, tolerant, and free wied characteristics portray a Hemingway code hero because Santiago follows virtues of honor, courage, and endurance during every moment of his life.

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