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Santiago: A New Dimension of Hemingway¡¯s Code Hero
Abstract: Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea is the best example of Hemingway¡¯s Code Hero. This thesis concentrates on the analysis of Santiago spirit. From the aspects of characterization, sources of his strength and typical plot analysis, this thesis demonstrates the emerging process of Santiago¡¯s heroic image as well as his affection and appreciation for the nature. The whole thesis sends a clear message: the essence of Hemingway¡¯s Code Hero is Santiago spirit: ¡°Man is not made for defeat. ... ¡±
Key Words: Santiago, Santiago spirit, pride, defeat, success
¢ñ. Introduction
Ernest Hemingway is always devoted to writing the strong quality of the man. His works represent different aspects of human lives: The Sun Also Rises is the manifesto of the lost generation; A Farewell to Arms reflects Hemingway¡¯s attitude towards the war; The Old Man and the Sea reveals Man¡¯s undefeated power and spirit¡Trough his masterpieces, Hemingway¡¯s Code hero presents clearly to the readers: Man should fight to the end in the battle.
Hemingway¡¯s life experience was a legend worth exploring. ... Obviously, that¡¯s why all his main characters owned some kind of toughness.
However, it was not until the appearance of The Old Man and the Sea that his Code hero came to its climax. ... The Nobel Committee singled out the work¡¯s ¡°natural admiration for every individual who fights the good fight in a world of reality overshadowed by violence and death¡± (noted Susan F. Beegel in ¡°Conclusion: The Critical Reputation of Ernest Hemingway¡±). The main character Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea is old, poor, and weak but he succeeds in catching the great marlin and fighting away the sharks. Although he is only left with the skeleton of the marlin, he still exists as a hero with his undefeated spirit.
Literature Review: In Hu Yuan¡¯s thesis On the Creativeness& Philosophy in The Old Man and the Sea, she focuses on the creativeness of Santiago¡¯s tough man image and the novel¡¯s Christian symbolism as well as the philosophy lying in the relationship between Man and nature. In Li Xiaohui¡¯s thesis The Ture Depiction of Human Being¡¯s Struggling Spirit, he centers on the theme of humanity and symbolism in the novel.
¢òCharacterization Analysis
Santiago seems to be the best example of Hemingway¡¯s Code hero. ... Portrait
At the beginning of the novel, the impression that the Cuban fisherman Santiago leaves the readers has nothing to do with a hero: he is old, poor, and very unlucky. Hemingway describes him as ¡°thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck¡±[1]. ... All these descriptions emphasize Santiago¡¯s apparent lack of success: Having not caught a fish for eighty-four days, he is being tortured by the cruel reality. ...
As Hemingway says masterfully, Santiago¡¯s eyes ¡°were the same colour as the sea and cheerful and undefeated ¡±[1]. Therefore, his eyes exhibit the sign of a hero, continuously reflecting his everlasting hope and confidence. ... Although they are always hurt by the heat of sunshine, they still work well and make Santiago see things clearly ¡°without getting the blackness¡±[1] even in the evening. ... Hemingway¡¯s Code hero is therefore well represented. ... Santiago¡¯s pride
Pride has been an indispensable component in Santiago¡¯s character. ... It is Santiago¡¯s pride that leads to his predicament. However, it is also Santiago¡¯s pride that becomes the source of his determination.
In the opening pages, Santiago emerges as a poor and humble fisherman. ...
In fact, Santiago¡¯s pride has never left him throughout the novel. ... After the sharks have destroyed the marlin, Santiago apologizes again and again to the marlin. ...
On the other hand, Santiago¡¯s pride is also the source of his determination. ... Throughout the novel, no matter how baleful his circumstances become, Santiago demonstrates his strong resolution to catch the marlin and bring it to shore. ... Santiago¡¯s Interactions with the Nature
Santiago shows not only his toughness as a masterful fisherman but also his respect and affection for life and nature. ... 1 The Sea
Santiago, who lives in a small village beside the Gulf Stream, is closely connected to the sea. ... When the sea shows her cruelty, others speak unfavorably of her while Santiago forgives her and believes that she does so because ¡°she could not help them¡±[1]. ... 2 The Birds
Santiago keeps a harmonious relationship with different kinds of birds flying over the sea. ... Santiago makes use of it as a guide, follows its directions and finally catches a big albacore. ... The Marlin
Santiago is amazed by the greatness of the marlin and considers him as a worthy opponent. ... Actually, Santiago has realized that the greater your opponent, the greater your victory because ¡°more is demanded of you¡±[2]. ... Just as an opposing athlete is not truly an enemy but merely a fellow participant in a game, Santiago and the marlin are not truly enemies. ... Since it¡¯s clear that the marlin is not the real enemy, Santiago and the marlin are brothers. On the marlin¡¯s death, Santiago forms ¡°an immediate alliance¡±[2] with it against the sharks that come to destroy his victory. ...
¢ò Sources of Santiago¡¯s Strength
Santiago stands as a hero throughout novel with his undefeated spirit. ... ¡°A turtle¡¯s heart will beat for hours after he has been cut up and butchered¡. ... This vivid comparison gives insight into Santiago¡¯s endurance: Just like the turtles, destructive forces could not easily defeat him.
Approximate Word count = 4574
Approximate Pages = 18.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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