This blog post takes a deep look at the meaning of human existence and attitudes toward life through Hemingway’s ‘The Old Man and the Sea’.
‘The Old Man and the Sea’ is Ernest Hemingway’s masterpiece, first published in the September 1952 issue of Life magazine. It earned him the Pulitzer Prize the following year and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. As the last novel published during Hemingway’s lifetime, it holds immense significance in his literary career. Written during his mature period as an author, this novel distills his life and experiences. It embodies his earnest desire to regain his literary honor after a decade of creative stagnation prior to its publication. Hemingway fervently hoped this work would restore his reputation as a writer, and as he wished, the novel achieved both literary and commercial success, garnering enthusiastic reader response immediately upon publication.
Hemingway, an avid fisherman, met a fisherman named Montespen during a trip to Cuba, and this real-life encounter provided the motif for the novel. Hemingway wove his own experiences into the fisherman’s story to complete the work, striving to imbue every element of the novel with vivid realism. He had actually caught a large marlin himself, and this real-life experience is woven into every detail of the fishing gear and process described in the novel. This realistic portrayal enhances the novel’s sense of reality, immersing readers in the story.
However, readers’ enthusiasm for ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ stems not solely from its vivid descriptions. This work profoundly and concisely captures the ideal human attitude toward life, the essence of existence, and the struggle of humanity against the vast sea of life, delivering a profound emotional impact. The depth of meaning contained within its short, simple form resonates all the more powerfully and weightily.
The plot is simple. An old fisherman named Santiago endures 84 days of failure, unable to catch a fish. Yet he refuses to give up, returning to the sea, where he finally encounters a giant fish. After wrestling with it for two days and nights, he succeeds in landing the fish. But the fish is too large to fit inside his boat, so he ties it alongside and heads home. However, sharks drawn by the scent of blood attack, and he ultimately loses the fish, left with only the bones and head. He returns home exhausted, falls into a deep sleep, and the novel ends.
This scene reveals more than mere futility. Santiago endured waiting, hunger, loneliness, and pain to catch the greatest fish of his life, silently bearing every hardship. Even if he ultimately holds nothing in his hands, he is never defeated. Rather, he approaches the truth of life by accepting even suffering and failure with equanimity, unconcerned with the outcome. His figure embodies profound insight into human existence and demonstrates the mature attitude necessary for living life.
For Santiago, the sea is not merely a place for fishing. The sea is his entire life, an entity that gives everything and takes everything away. Sometimes it envelops him like a mother’s warmth; other times, it approaches as a capricious and treacherous reality. Santiago accepts the sea as it is, without fear, sometimes fighting it, sometimes embracing it, and embracing the weariness of life. His attitude, which values all beings in the sea and reflects on and accepts himself in harmony with nature, awakens the dignity of human existence.
‘The Old Man and the Sea’ does not merely depict a heroic figure confronting adversity. Through the relationship between Santiago and the boy, this work also reveals the warmth, gentleness, and value of true human connection. The boy can be seen as an embodiment of Santiago, constantly offering comfort and encouragement while respecting and cherishing the old man. The old man, too, leans on the boy, revealing a humble and human side rather than a traditional ‘manly’ or ‘adult’ demeanor. Their relationship transcends a simple mentor-disciple bond; it is a special friendship that offers each other comfort and hope.
Whenever the old man faces hardship in the novel, it is this boy he thinks of. His thought, “How wonderful it would be if the boy were here with me right now,” is not merely the musing of a lonely old man, but a scene symbolically illustrating the importance of human bonds and relationships. The boy is both the old man’s recollection of his younger self and the source of strength and courage for the old man now. Thus, this novel goes beyond the external conflict of battling the vast natural world, delicately portraying relationships between people and their inner emotions.
Hemingway powerfully unfolds this entire process through his characteristic concise style and restrained expression. By eliminating ornate embellishments and overt emotional displays, he instead uses short, strong sentences and symbolism to leave a greater impact and lingering resonance. The fast-paced narrative and compressed storytelling actually stimulate the reader’s imagination, revealing the deeper meaning hidden beneath the surface of the story with greater clarity. Even without directly describing emotions, readers can fully sense the old man’s inner world and his human anguish.
‘The Old Man and the Sea’ is a work that distills the complex and profound meaning of life into a simple story. The old man’s journey, battling the sea, fish, and waves, symbolizes the lives of us all. His attitude—never losing hope amidst repeated failure and pain, valuing process and attitude over outcome—still resonates deeply with us living in this era. The old man’s solitary struggle and the steadfastness he displays within it prompt serious reflection on the essence of life and human dignity.
Particularly, the equal yet interdependent relationship between the old man and the boy awakens the value of true humanity and communal love. This is precisely why this work has been cherished by readers across generations for so long. Beyond a simple tale of a hero or a narrative of survival, this novel carries a profound message about the human spirit, love, relationships, and the meaning of existence.
“A man can be destroyed, but he cannot be defeated.”
Like this line from Hemingway, ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ reveals the conviction and will that humans must uphold to the very end, and the beauty that blossoms within it. May readers savor the profoundly moving world of this work for a long time to come, continuing their reflection on the human condition.
