The Macho Man in the Novel The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway was the “macho man,” so to speak He believed in the values of courage, honor, valor, and never backing down. Santiago seems as if he is only an old man, out stubbornly following a catch for days on end. However, this follows the Hemingway code. He stubbornly followed this fish. He was already old and weak, and he decided that this sailing trip would either result in the end of the fish or the end of himself. He continued on, through the multiple pains of managing the small boat. Santiago is a perfect example of a Hemingway hero. Hemingway was what many of us would call a perfect “macho man.” He made himself out to be brave, courageous, and honorable, He wanted people to think he never backed down from any challenge. He put these principles into his writing, and they became known as the “Hemingway code hero “ A hero in Hemingway’s eyes was a man without fear, and the willingness to do whatever was necessary to complete the task at hand.

The pain a man went through is what would make him who he was, who he is, and who he becomes. Not only that but the stressful times a man goes through build his character into something better than what it was before. A man is defined by how he presents his honor, his courage, and his endurance in times of distress. And, above all else, how a man keeps his composure and a level head through stress and pressure makes him who he is, and ultimately makes him a better man. To define the “code hero” more precisely, they would be a man who was brave and courageous. A man who never backed down from any challenge that might face him, and not only would he stand his ground, but he would fight, whether win or loss, with honor.

This is what Hemingway’s heroes are meant to be, and who he would define as a hero Santiago had his fair share of pain, both physical and mental, One of the biggest problems Santiago had while out in the ocean was his hand cramping. This may not seem like that big of a deal, but while out on the open ocean and alone, a cramped hand means Santiago can’t pull in the lines. “’ He’s coming up,’ he said. ‘Come on hand. Please. Not only was his hand cramped, but both hands were steadily gaining cuts as the heavy line slid past the soft parts of his palm, As the fish suddenly pulls on the line, “He felt the line carefully with his right hand and noticed his hand was bleeding."  Endurance through physical pain is one of the key points of being a hero in Hemingway’s eyes. But, it’s not the only one.

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Mental pain and the ability to endure through it is just as important, if not more so. While on the open water, Santiago wishes for the boy to be with him multiple times, Sometimes he wishes because the boy could help him with the fish, but also there are times when Santiago just wants company and someone to talk to. As the large fish begins to pull, Santiago realizes there are other baits set in the water to catch fish both for more bait and for food The old man sadly thinks, “’I wish I had the boy. This longing for the boy is an example of mental pain, but the old man does not dwell for long, meaning he is living up to the standards of being the Hemingway code hero, One of the most exhibited traits that Santiago presents is simple and pure endurance. Although his endurance presents more as stubborn persistence, the idea is the same, Several times during his ordeal, Santiago declares his determination out loud, saying, “‘Fish,’ he said, ‘I love you and respect you very much.

But I will kill you dead before this day ends.”’  Santiago will not give up on this fish, even if he does not manage to kill it that day. For three long days, he allows the giant marlin to tire itself out, pulling the skiff along with it out into the open, During these three days, Santiago has only a single water bottle to drink and the only food he has is whatever other smaller fish he manages to catch during the day. Santiago has more endurance than many, and nothing stopped him from catching the massive marlin. The final criteria of the Hemingway code is to exhibit grace under stress, that is to say, keep a calm head when things go badly. And Santiago does exactly that. During his multi-day adventure, not once does he lose his head or break his calm.

The marlin makes several sudden movements, and for the most part they do not phase Santiago, No matter what the fish decides to do, Santiago has a plan. After Santiago has caught the fish, sharks begin to attack the floating corpse of the marlin. But, Santiago knows exactly what to do, even as his meager tools begin to fall into the sea one by one, The old man thinks, “I cannot keep him from hitting me but maybe 1 can get him." Santiago knows exactly how to deal with the shark, and without hesitation or fear “he rammed the harpoon down onto the shark’s head at a spot where the line between his eyes intersected with the line that ran eraight back from his nose.” This accuracy shows a level head, and the knowledge of exactly how to deal with the current situation, giving Santiago another point towards being the code hero.

Santiago is the perfect example of the Hemingway code hero. During his adventure of a fishing trip, he goes through physical pain after pain as his hands are cut by the line as the marlin pulls harder, and as his hands cramp from malnourishment and overuse. This pain does nothing to deter him, and only fuels his endurance and will to continue in his quest to make the catch of his life. Santiago went into this trip expecting a one day catch but came back four days later with little food or water. This shows a level of persistence rarely seen Finally, Santiago, through four days of pain and hunger and thirst, never loses his head. He keeps it clearer than ever, even to his own surprise. Santiago is the most “macho” of the “macho men,” and through this singular experience proves it explicitly.

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