The Old Man and the Sea uses many techniques to captivate the reader. The first thing that keeps the story interesting is its simplicity. It is very easy to read and it is a short novel. It is around one hundred pages, so it can be read quickly. Even though it is a quick read it leaves an impact. It tells a classic story in a minimal amount of pages.
There is also foreshadowing in the story. Manolin tells Santiago he is the best fisherman. He says there are many good fishermen, but there is only him. Then the old man says “I hope no fish will come along so great that he will prove us wrong” (Hemmingway, 23.) This event foreshadows that a fish of this magnitude will come along, but Santiago still beats the fish. He proves that he really is the best fisherman.
This story also grabs attention through symbolism. As the title suggests the story is about an old man and a sea. They both have stronger significances through their symbolism. Santiago symbolizes the power of man, and the sea symbolizes the power of nature. Santiago puts forth a good effort, but the sea can’t let him go home victorious. It shows that man can never beat nature.
Another thing the author uses in the story is a flashback. In present time Santiago is an old, unlucky man that has been shunned by the community. A little over half way through the story it goes back to when the old man was El Campeon. He is pitted against the strongest man on the docks in an arm wrestling match. It lasts a day long, and Santiago is the winner. This flashback shows that Santiago has grown old since his prime. In the flashback he says that he has found that he could beat anyone if he put his mind to it. He is much more humble in his old age, and it is Manolin who says Santiago could beat anyone now.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.
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