Blog #2: The Old Man and the Sea

The main conflict of the book, The Old Man and the Sea, is Santiago's struggle with the greatest fish his has ever encountered in his entire career. I believe that this conflict is caused by the determination in Santiago. Because it has been over eighty days since Santiago has caught a fish, Manolin, the young boy who often fishes with Santiago is forbidden to fish with Santiago by his father. His father believes that Santiago is an unlucky fisherman, ad Manolin should not waste his time with a fishing partner who is not having any luck at all. Santiago is determined to sail way out into deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico to catch a great fish and prove to Manolin's father that he is a lucky person and a good fisherman. I think that Santiago is going about this the wrong way. I think that Santiago obviously has not been having any luck, so why should he risk his life to catch a fish that is way bigger than he can handle? This is what causes Santiago to encounter several life or death situations.

Santiago gains a few things throughout the book although he is struggling most of the time. I think that Santiago gains a friendship and compassion. After he struggles with the marlin on his fishing line for three days, the conflict between the Marlin and Santiago is switched to a conflict between Santiago and the Marlin versus Nature. I think that the old man felt really bad as the great fish was being eaten by the sharks, and this is where I think the old man has gained compassion.

I noticed that Santiago had two major losses in the book, The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago lost his fishing companion, Manolin, and he also lost the greatest fish he has ever seen in his life. Santiago was obviously upset that Manolin was no longer fishing with him because he was determined to prove his luck and skills to Manolin's father. I counted this as a major loss in the book. I also thought that because Santiago felt compassion for the marlin, when the sharks attacked it the old man felt he had lost his companion.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.