The Old Man and the Sea may have been written over half of a century ago, but it still has timeless lessons. The messages that this simple story conveys were important then, and they remain important to this day. This is a story that shows a personal triumph that a man gains even after a great loss. This man endures day after day of failed fishing attempts, and when he finally catches a fish it is taken away from him. He may have lost the fish, but he gained a personal triumph.
This is also a story of courage, primarily in the face of defeat. After the old man hooks the fish it takes control. The old man is at a loss because the fish is dragging him farther and farther out in the sea, and he can’t do anything about it. He still remains courageous, and he won’t let anything stop him.
This is a short novel, but it provides several things to learn from. The other obvious lesson is to be persistent. The old man is persistent in going out at sea everyday even though he never catches anything, but he always comes home with his pride.
I think this story also teaches something about loneliness. The old man is out at sea by himself for a few days. He constantly says he wishes that Manolin was with him. He seems to go slightly mad too. He talks to himself and the fish, and speaks of very strange things. He says he is glad he does not have to kill the stars, and he imagines men trying to kill the moon (Hemmingway, 75.) It has been said that “loneliness is about the scariest thing out there.” I think this is very true. I believe that complete solitude leads to complete insanity. The Old Man and the Sea has a lot of lessons that people will be able to learn from for years to come.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.
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