《老人与海》英文版读后感篇1

Thisyearsummervacation,IreadtheAmericanwell-knownwriterHemingwaysnovel“oldpersonandsea”.Iextremelyadmireinthenoveltheseniorfishermanswill,heletmeunderstandonepersoncertainlymusthaverelentlessspirit,onlythencouldobtainsuccessfully.

Thenoveldescriptionisoneyearnearsixtyyearsofageseniorfisherman,whenalonegoestoseainonefishing,fishedonebigfish,actuallydidnotpull.Theseniorfishermansocializedseveraldaysafterthefish,onlythendiscoveredthiswasthebigmarlinwhichonesurpassedtheoneselffishingboatseveralfold,althoughknewperfectlywellverydifficulttowin,butstilldidnotgiveup.Afterwardsandfurtherbecauseinthebigmarlinwoundfishfishysmellbroughtinseveralcrowdsofsharkfishsnatchesthefood,buttheoldpersonstilldidnothopelikethistogiveup,finallyhighlightedencirclestightly,returnedtothebigfishbeltthefishingport,letsotherfishermennotadmirealready.

WhenIread“theseniorfishermanthink:Heretotheseacoastreallywastoonear,perhapscouldhaveabiggerfishinafartherplace…”When,Iextremelyadmirethisseniorfisherman,becausehebynowalreadyprojectedonsomefish,buthehadnotsettledtothepresentsituation,butwasapproachesthebiggergoaladvance.Againhasalookus,usuallymeetsoneslightlyisdifficult,weallcomplainincessantly.Wewillbethemotherlandfuture,willbesupposedtolikethisoldpersonsamemindloftyaspiration,willevenbetterpursueevenbetter,thebiggergoal.

WhenIread“thebigmarlinstartfasttogatherroundtheyoungfishingboathover,twinedthecableonthemast,theoldpersonrighthandlifteduphighthesteelfork,leaptthewatersurfaceinittheflash,didutmostthrowstoitsheart,onewailendedthebigfishslife,itwasstaticstaticfloatsonthewatersurface…”When,myheartalsolikedtogetherthebigstonefalls.Iextremelyadmireoldpersonthatkinddonotdread,therelentlessspirit,althoughknowsthematchstrengthisverystrong,buthenotslightlyflinches,butiswelcomesdifficultlyabove.Justbecausehadthiskindofspirit,theseniorfishermanonlythenachievedthislifeanddeathcontestsuccess.Wealsomuststudyseniorfishermansspiritinlife,handlesthematterdoesnotfearthedifficulty,onlythencanobtainsuccessfully.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇2

Theoldmanandthesea"isanovelwrittenbyAmericanwriterHemingway,anoldfishermannamedSantiagoeighty-fourconsecutivedaysdidnotcatchafish,althoughhehasgrey-haired,butherefusedtoadmitdefeat,stillfulloffightingspirit.Athisinsistence,finallyineighty-fifthdayscaughtaonethousandandfivehundredpoundfish,eighteenfeetlong,thefishpulledtheoldmanboatintotheseatoswim,innowaterandnofood,notoolsandpeerpredicament,theoldmanisstillinthefightwiththebigfish,twodayslaterhefinallykilledthefish,butalsoattractedmanysharks,althoughhewagedafiercebattlewiththesharks,buthemanagedtogetthebigfisheatshark,theoldmanhadtogohomewiththerestofthefishbones.

Afterreadingthenovel,Iwasdeeplymovedbytheoldman,andsomepeoplemaythinkthattheoldmansbehaviorisverystupid,inthe"noharvest"dayscanstillholdon.Moreover,theoldmanwasfortunateenoughtohaveabigfishafterafiercestruggleandwaseatenbysharks,andwhattheoldmanhaddonebeforeseemedmeaninglesstothem.Butinmyopinion,theoldmanisadmirable.Firstofall,theoldmanwasverypatient,andforthelongdayshedidnotreapanything.Evenifhewaslaughedat,hepersisted.Finally,hisperseverancecamein,buthehadtofightthebigfish.Intheprocess,hewastheonlyoneontheship.Fromthespiritualpointofview,hewaslonely,andtherewasnofoodontheship,andhisbodycouldnotsupporthimanylonger.Inthephysicalandmentaltorture,hestillpersevered,andthisiswhatIadmiremostofhim.

Ifeelthesameabouttheoldman.Injuniorhighschool,wehavetoreformthesportsrunning,long-distancerunning,fornomovementofthecellsforme,itisaboltfromtheblue.WhenIfirststarted,Iwasfarfromperfect.Forme,itistogetoutofclasstotellsomefantastictales,moststudentsareaneasyjobtodo.Ifinsportsinthisregardwithotherswidenthegap,hemayalsobeverysorry.SoIdecidedtopracticelong-distancerunning,maybeIcouldsprintthefullscoreonthedayoftheexam.SoinadditiontotheprovisionsofthemorningschooleverydayafterschooleverydayIranoutside,towalkafewlapsaroundthetrackandfield.

Distanceexaminationandmorethanayear,longdistanceisreallyverystrenuous,everytimerunoutinasweatdoesnotsay,formypoorpeople,runningreallyveryhard,fromthebeginningofthesecondlapbreathingdifficulties,whentherearehalfcircleofpeoplewanttofalltotheground,butalsotobespeedrun,sprintingthroatlikesomethingoff,asifnextsecondthereissomethingtobepouredout.ButIstillinsiston,andfinallytotheexaminationday,althoughItriedmybest,butstillalittlebitoutoffullmarks.Knowthemomentofachievement,tearsinvoluntarilyintheeyesoftherotation,inmind,beforetheeffortsareinvain?.Now,ZhangSijiafeelsthathiseffortsarenotwithoutprogress.AtleastIhavemadegreatprogress.

Maybesometimes,intheeyesofothers,youinsistonthingsismeaningless,butnotallthingscanbeaccomplished,theremustbealongprocess,throughthelongprocess,evenifnotsuccessful,buttheyalsocangettoit.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇3

thenoveldescribesisnearly60year,whenthefishermanfishing,senioraloneinabigfish,actuallynotpull.seniorfishermansocialization,afterafishthatthisisabigmarlin,beyondyourfishingseveralfolding,thoughclearlyhardtowin,butdontgiveup.laterinthebigmarlinwoundbringsomeofthefishsuspiciousofsharkssmellgroups,buttheoldmanstillsnatchfoodhopenotgiveup,andfinallyemphasizessurroundclose,returnedtothebigfish,lettheotherfishermanfishingisadmired.

whenireadthe"seniorfishermanthought:herescoastisreallytooclose,maybetherewillbeabiggerfishinfurther..."iappreciatethisseniorfishermen,becausenowhehascastinsomefish,buthestillwasnotsolved,thepresentsituation,butveryclosetogoals.look,weoftenencounteraslightlyisdifficult,wearecomplainingnonstop.inthefuture,wewillbethemotherland,soitshouldbetheoldideas,willbemoreloftyaspiration,forabetter,moregoals.

wheniread"thebigmarlinbegantorapidlyaroundtheyoungfishingboats,cablesuspensionofmasttwisting,oldmanexaltedtotherighthandofgangcha,leapthighflash,andthemaximumthrowittoheart,wailoverfish,itisthelifeofthestaticstaticfloatonwater......"ialsolikethestonefallsintogether.iappreciatetheoldmandonotfear,unremittingspiritpower,althoughknowthisgameisverystrong,butheisntpopularflinchesslightly,butmoreintractable.justbecauseofthisspirit,tofinishtheseniorfishermenlifeanddeathofthecompetition.wemustalsolearnadvancedfishermansspirituallife,donotfearthedifficulty,theonlythingthatcansucceed.

readingthebigfishsmellsbloodisthecrowd,sharksswamgrabfood,theoldmanleft,hecanjusttwitching,withastickwithyourrighthand,moutharepermitteduseofweaponstoattackanddefendtheexpelledthesharks.butthebigfisheatmeathasamost,butalsohislefthandcharminglycriticizedtheworktimeisactually"time,ialsosubjecttooldoptimism.inourlife,somelossesareinevitable,weshouldtakeanoptimisticattitudetowardtocompute.

finally,throughayouthnovellookedfor18feetofseniorfishermen,describethemarlinsupthefishhugeness,explainedtheseniorfishermanisnotdifficult,morecommon.

thenovelextolspiritseniorfishermanfearhardanddangeroustofight,wewillnotlikehim,whocantsatisfythepresentsituation,shouldactively,doanythingisrelentless,difficulty,maybewelcomedifficultneverstophalfway.onlyinthiswaycanweachievegreatersuccessandvictory.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇4

theOldManandtheSeaisoneofHemingwaysmostenduringworksandmayverywellbecomeoneofthetrueclassicsofthisgeneration.ItplayedaGREatpartinhiswinningthePulizerPrizein1953andthe1954NovelPrizeforLiteratureandconfirmedhispowerandpresenceintheliteraryworld.Hemingwayisalsooneofmyfavoritewriters.BesidesTheOldManAndtheSea,Ihavereadsomeofhisotherworks,suchasTheSunAlsoRises,AFarewelltoArmsandTheSnowofKilimanijaro.ButTheOldManandtheSeaistheonethatleftthedeepestimpressiononme.

IfirstreadthisbookwhenIwasinmyfifteens.AndnowIrememberitjustaswellasifIhadreadityesterday.

PrideandPrejudiceisachefdoeuvre.

Myfirstimpressionofthisstorywasfromscreen.

Itslonglongago,maybebeforeIcanreadenglishbooks.IdontrememberwhichmovieeditionIhadseen.ButIwasimpressedbythemusic,thesceneryandthecostume.Iwasveryfavorofasectionofmusicinitsballs.Itsprettybrisk,likedawonderfulsongofabird.Regardingtothecharacters,IlikedElizabeth,theheroine,thoughIdidntthinkshesbeautiful.Butshessmart.However,Ididntpaymuchattentiontotheplot.Ithoughtitssolongthatitmademeimpatientandbored.Bynow,IhaventreadthewholestoryinEnglishoritsChineseversion,either.Ioweittomyprejudice.

Infact,Ididntunderstandthestoryatthattime.IdidntknowwhyitcalledPrideandPrejudice.Ofcoursesomeonewaspride,butIdidntfindwherestheprejudice.Ithoughtitsnormal,thewaypeopletreatedeachotherinthat.Iconsideredprejudicewouldbeverydisgusting.ButtothemovieeverthingwasOKinmyminds,exceptitslength.Now,IthinkIhaveunderstoodmoreaboutit.ImaprejudicedpersonsoIcantfindwhereswrong.ImerelyliketodothethingsIlike.EverytimeImeetsomebodyorsomething,mythinkingaboutheoritalldependsonmyforegoneexperienceandmymoodofthetime.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇5

Santiago,anoldmanaboutsixtyyearsold,fishedalonewithnothingcaughtineightyfourdays.Noonewouldliketotalktohimforhisextremelybadluckexceptaboywhoalwayscametohelpafterthedayandfinallylefttoanotherboatunderthepressureofhisparents.Ignoringthecontemptfromtheyoungerfishermenandsympathyfromtheolder,onthemorningofthe85thday,theoldmanstartedhisfishingwithdeterminationandrowedhisoldboatveryfarintheseawherehebelievedtherewouldbebigfish.FortunatelytheoldmanmetwithabigfishashehadwishedandfinallydefeatedthebigMarlinwithtwodaysandnightsstruggleafterovercominggreatdifficulties.ButmoreunfortunatelythereweremanysharkscomingafterhisboatattractedbythesmellofthebloodofthebigMarlin.Afterdeath-and-lifestruggle,whenhefinallygotridofthesharkscomingaftertheboat,thebigMarlinwasbareskeleton.

TheOldManandtheSeatellsafrustratedexperienceoftheoldmanwhofishesaloneintheseainplainlanguages.Throughthesimplelines,a“toughguy”imageisshapedandheroismispraised.Thewholestorystartswithapeacefulbeginningwhichissometrivialoflifeandtalkingwiththeboy,andsuddenlyturnstoitsclimaxwhichisthedangerousfightingwiththebigfishandsharksaloneinthesea,andendswiththeoldman’sreturnwiththebareskeletonofthebigMarlin.Thoughtheboyonlyappearsatthebeginningandtheendinginthenovel,heplaysanindispensiblerole,itishisinspiringandsupportingthathelpstheoldmantobe“gracefulunderheavypressure”.

Inthebook,theoldmanpreparedhisfishingproperlyandpreciouslythananyotherfishermensothat“Thenwhenluckcomesyouareready”astheoldmanthoughttohimself.Inreality,someofuskeepcomplainingthattheyareborninwrongtimeorgoodluckneverknockstheirdoors.Infact,goodlucksometimesjustcomeswhentheyarenotready.TakingNewtonforexample,ifhehadnotacquiredalot,millionsofapplescouldnevermakehimdiscoverythegravity.Soifwejustkeepstudyingasmuchaswecan,goodluckwillfinallyfindusandabrightfutureisaheadofus.Theoldmannevergivesuphope.Whenallofpeoplethinkheisdoomed,hestillstronglybelievesthathewillgetabigfish.Andhedoes.Sonevergivinguphopeisveryimportanttous.ThisremindedmeofthesentenceinChurchill’sspeech“Nevergiveup,never,never,never…”.“Butmanisnotmadefordefeat.Amancanbedestroyedbutnotdefeated”hasalwaysbeeninspiringmewhenIcounterwithsomesetbacksinmylife.Setbacksareinevitableinpursuitofourgoals,butweshouldneverbefrustratedandshouldbe“gracefulunderheavypressure”liketheoldman.Itishisrelentlesspursuitthatcontributestothevictory.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇6

MythoughtsontheoldmanandtheseaAmanisnotmadefordefeat,amancanbedestroyedbutnotdefeated.ThissentencehaslingeredinmymindsinceIfinishedthebookTheOldManandtheSeaInthefaceoffightingwiththishugemarlin,theoldmandidnotreleasethefishinglineinhishandsforthreedaysandnights,andtheoldmandidnotflinchwhenconfrontedwithattackofsharks,butdecidedtopickupthewoodenstickinthehandstodefendtheirownharvest.

Suchatoughguyimagesuddenlyhighlightedinfrontofme,whichmademeadmirehimandcheerforhisbmind.Challengeisofcoursenowhereinthepresentlife.Weneedtolearnfromtheoldmanwhowithabraveheart,inthefaceofchallengesclenchedhisfist,ratherthanyield,avoid,andgiveup.Intheboundlesssea,theoldmanwassittingaloneinthelittlesailingboat,andseemedsosmallunderthesettingsuninthedistance,extraordinarilyslim.

Buttheoldmanhadn’tcaughtonefishsince84daysago.Intsuchsituation,theoldmanwasstilloptimistic,lookingatthesunriseandset,watchingtheloomingmoon,andenjoyingthecompanyoffishandbirds,andtalkingwithwindandwater.Hejustbecameonepartofthesea.Thesea,kindandbeautiful,finallygavetheoldmanabigmarlinbuttheoceanwasalsocruel-lotsofsharkscamefloodingtorobthefish,tryingbeatingtheoldmanandcrushinghisglory.Theoldman"slonelinessandhappywereassociatedwiththesea,throughwhom,theauthorenthusiasticallypraisethehuman’sbraverywhenfacinghardships.Sonomatterhowdifficultthethingsare,weallcan"tgiveupourselves.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇7

Onsummervacationofthisyear,Istudiedinnovel"oldmanandsea"ofHemingway,famouswriterofU.S.A.,.Iadmiretheoldfishermanswillinthenovelverymuch,heletsmeunderstandthatapersonmusthaveunremittingspirit,couldsucceed.

Whatthenovelisdescribedisanoldfishermanalmostthesixtyyearsold,whengotoseaandfishaloneonce,haveangledtoabigfish,butcannotdraw.Aftertoughfishermanandfishhavesocializedforafewdays,justfindthisisabigMalinsfishwhichexceedsseveraltimesofonesownfishingboat,thoughknowperfectlywellthatitisverydifficulttowin,doesnotgiveupyet.BecausebigMalinfishfishlikesmellofwoundattractoddherdsofsharkvieforthefoodagainlater,buttheoldmanisstillunwillingtogiveuplikethis,stressthetightencirclementfinally,takethelargefishbacktofishingport,letotherfishmenadmireitendlessly.TheoldfishermanthinksthatasIread":Itisreallytooclosefromheretocoast,perhapstherearebiggerfishinthefartherplace……"When,admireverymuchbecausethisoldfishermaninthepersons,becauseplaynotforsomefishinghealreadyatthismomentI,butheisnotsatisfiedwiththeexistingstateofaffairs,butadvancetowardsgreatergoal.

Seeingusagain,meetsomelittledifficultiesatordinarytimes,allofuscomplainbitterly.Wearethefutureofthemotherland,shouldbeasambitiousasthisoldman,gotopursuewell,greatergoal.Readasme"bigMalinfishisitencloselightfishingboatmoveabout,isitgetmasttotwinecablefasttobegin,oldmanrighthandholdsteelforkhigh,jumpoutinaflash,affordingtotryonesbestabovewaterinit,asoundofwailhasfinishedthelifeoftheloudfish,itfloatsonthesurfaceofwatersilently……"When,theIoneheartistoofalllikepiecesofstonenotbig.Iadmirethatkindoffearingoftheoldmanatall,unremittingspiritverymuch,thoughknowrivalsstrengthisverystrong,buthehasnotshrunkbackatall,meetsthedifficulty.Justbecausethereisthiskindofspirit,theoldfishermanhasobtainedthevictoryofthetrialofstrengthofthislifeanddeath.Weshouldstudytheoldfishermansspirittooinlife,dothethingandisnotafraidofthedifficulty,couldachievesuccess.Readbigbloodoffensivesmelloffishsmelloneshark,fallovereachothertovisittovieforthefood,lefthandofoldmanpullamusclejust,hecanonlyuserighthand,canweaponattackedtousedfordefendoneselfwithstick,mouthofswordfishthatcatcheverything,andhasdrivenawaythisherdofsharkfinally.Butbigmeatoffishtakeintobighalfalready,butoldmancriticizeonesownlefthand"whentheworkthiswhenhavearest"humorouslyalso,Iamsubduedbyoldmansoptimisticspirittoo.Inlife,somelossesareunavoidable,weshouldtreattheoptimisticattitude,cantworryaboutpettygainorloss.Finally,thenovelseeswithateenagerthatoldfishermanhas18feetofbiglongMalinsfishtotallyinthetolerance,theonesthathavedescribedthisfishareenormousagain,provethatoldfishermansdifficultyovercomeisbig,thanordinary.

Oldfishermansspiritthatmakesgreateffortstostrugglefearlessofdangeranddifficultythatthenovelhasbeenextolled,weshouldbelikehimtoo,cantbesatisfiedwiththecurrentsituation,shouldbepositiveupwards,itshouldbeunremittingtodoanything,itmustnotgiveuphalfwaytomeetingdifficultyshouldmeetthedifficulty.Onlyinthisway,wecouldobtaingreatersuccessandvictory.

《老人与海》英文版读后感篇8

WhenIwasamiddleschoolstudent,I’vefinishedthisbookinChinese.ButwhenIreaditinEnglish,Ireallygainsomethingnewbothinthewayofexpressionandthespirititshowstous.Maybedifferentagestoreadthesamebookwewilllearndifferentthingsfromit.Atleast,formypart,thatistrue.

Firstly,Iwouldliketoreviewsomeinformationaboutthisbook.Suchasthebackground,majorcharactersandthetopicofit.

TheOldManandtheSeaisastorybyErnestHemingway,writteninCubain1951andpublishedin1952.ItwasthelastmajorworkoffictiontobeproducedbyHemingwayandpublishedinhislifetime.Oneofhismostfamousworks,itcentersuponSantiago,anagingCubanfishermanwhostruggleswithagiantmarlinfaroutintheGulfStream.

TheOldManandtheSeaservedtoreinvigorateHemingwaysliteraryreputationandpromptedareexaminationofhisentirebodyofwork.Thenovellawasinitiallyreceivedwithmuchpopularity;itrestoredmanyreadersconfidenceinHemingwayscapabilityasanauthor.Itspublisher,Scribners,onanearlydustjacket,calledthenovellaa"newclassic,"andmanycriticsfavorablycompareditwithsuchworksasWilliamFaulkners"TheBear"andHermanMelvillesMoby-Dick.

Thisbookgivesmeadeepimpressionespeciallythedescriptionabouttheman’sbravenessandpersistence.

Inthisbook,inordertosuggesttheprofundityoftheoldman’ssacrificeandtheglorythatderivesfromit,HemingwaypurposefullylikensSantiagotoChrist,who,accordingtoChristiantheology,gavehislifeforthegreatergloryofhumankind.CrucifixionimageryisthemostnoticeablewayinwhichHemingwaycreatesthesymbolicparallelbetweenSantiagoandChrist.WhenSantiago’spalmsarefirstcutbyhisfishingline,thereadercannothelpbutthinkofChristsufferinghisstigmata.Later,whenthesharksarrive,Hemingwayportraystheoldmanasacrucifiedmartyr,sayingthathemakesanoisesimilartothatofamanhavingnailsdriventhroughhishands.Furthermore,theimageoftheoldmanstrugglingupthehillwithhismastacrosshisshouldersrecallsChrist’smarchtowardCalvary.EventhepositioninwhichSantiagocollapsesonhisbed-facedownwithhisarmsoutstraightandthepalmsofhishandsup-bringstomindtheimageofChristsufferingonthecross.HemingwayemploystheseimagesinthefinalpagesofthenovellainordertolinkSantiagotoChrist,whoexemplifiedtranscendencebyturninglossintogain,defeatintotriumph,andevendeathintorenewedlife.

Themajorcharactersinthisbookarealsovividandlively.

Santiago?,theoldmanofthenovella’stitle,SantiagoisaCubanfishermanwhohashadanextendedrunofbadluck.Despitehisexpertise,hehasbeenunabletocatchafishforeighty-fourdays.Heishumble,yetexhibitsajustifiedprideinhisabilities.Hisknowledgeoftheseaanditscreatures,andofhiscraft,isunparalleledandhelpshimpreserveasenseofhoperegardlessofcircumstance.

Themarlin?,Santiagohooksthemarlin,whichwelearnattheendofthenovellameasureseighteenfeet,onthefirstafternoonofhisfishingexpedition.Manolin?,aboypresumablyinhisadolescence,ManolinisSantiago’sapprenticeanddevotedattendant.Theoldmanfirsttookhimoutonaboatwhenhewasmerelyfiveyearsold.DuetoSantiago’srecentbadluck,Manolin’sparentshaveforcedtheboytogooutonadifferentfishingboat.Manolin,however,stillcaresdeeplyfortheoldman,towhomhecontinuestolookasamentor.

JoeDiMaggio,althoughDiMaggioneverappearsinthenovel,heplaysasignificantrolenonetheless.Santiagoworshipshimasamodelofstrengthandcommitment,andhisthoughtsturntowardDiMaggiowheneverheneedstoreassurehimselfofhisownstrength.Perico,Perico,thereaderassumes,ownsthebodegainSantiago’svillage.Heneverappearsinthenovel,butheservesanimportantroleinthefisherman’slifebyprovidinghimwithnewspapersthatreportthebaseballscores.ThisactestablisheshimasakindmanwhohelpstheagingSantiago.

Martin,likePerico,Martin,acaféownerinSantiago’svillage,doesnotappearinthestory.ThereaderlearnsofhimthroughManolin,whooftengoestoMartinforSantiago’ssupper.Astheoldmansays,Martinisamanoffrequentkindnesswhodeservestoberepaid.

Fromtheveryfirstparagraph,Santiagoischaracterizedassomeonestrugglingagainstdefeat.Hehasgoneeighty-fourdayswithoutcatchingafish-hewillsoonpasshisownrecordofeighty-sevendays.AlmostasareminderofSantiago’sstruggle,thesailofhisskiffresembles“theflagofpermanentdefeat.”Buttheoldmanrefusesdefeatateveryturn:heresolvestosailoutbeyondtheotherfishermentowherethebiggestfishpromisetobe.Helandsthemarlin,tyinghisrecordofeighty-sevendaysafterabrutalthree-dayfight,andhecontinuestowardoffsharksfromstealinghisprey,eventhoughheknowsthebattleisuseless.

BecauseSantiagoispittedagainstthecreaturesofthesea,somereaderschoosetoviewthetaleasachronicleofman’sbattleagainstthenaturalworld,butthenovellais,moreaccurately,thestoryofman’splacewithinnature.BothSantiagoandthemarlindisplayqualitiesofpride,honor,andbravery,andbotharesubjecttothesameeternallaw:theymustkillorbekilled.AsSantiagoreflectswhenhewatchesthewearywarblerflytowardshore,whereitwillinevitablymeetthehawk,theworldisfilledwithpredators,andnolivingthingcanescapetheinevitablestrugglethatwillleadtoitsdeath.Santiagolivesaccordingtohisownobservation:“manisnotmadefordefeat...[a]mancanbedestroyedbutnotdefeated.”InHemingway’sportraitoftheworld,deathisinevitable,butthebestmen(andanimals)willnonethelessrefusetogiveintoitspower.Accordingly,manandfishwillstruggletothedeath,justashungrysharkswilllaywastetoanoldman’strophycatch.

Thenovelsuggeststhatitispossibletotranscendthisnaturallaw.Infact,theveryinevitabilityofdestructioncreatesthetermsthatallowaworthymanorbeasttotranscendit.Itispreciselythroughtheefforttobattletheinevitablethatamancanprovehimself.Indeed,amancanprovethisdeterminationoverandoverthroughtheworthinessoftheopponentshechoosestoface.Santiagofindsthemarlinworthyofafight,justasheoncefound“thegreatnegroofCienfuegos”worthy.HSantiago,thoughdestroyedattheendofthenovella,isneverdefeated.Instead,heemergesasahero.Santiago’sstruggledoesnotenablehimtochangeman’splaceintheworld.Rather,itenableshimtomeethismostdignifieddestiny.

WhileitiscertainlytruethatSantiago’seighty-four-dayrunofbadluckisanaffronttohisprideasamasterfulfisherman,andthathisattempttobearouthisskillsbysailingfarintothegulfwatersleadstodisaster,Hemingwaydoesnotcondemnhisprotagonistforbeingfullofpride.Onthecontrary,Santiagostandsasproofthatpridemotivatesmentogreatness.Becausetheoldmanacknowledgesthathekilledthemightymarlinlargelyoutofpride,andbecausehiscaptureofthemarlinleadsinturntohisheroictranscendenceofdefeat,pridebecomesthesourceofSantiago’sgreateststrength.Withoutaferocioussenseofpride,thatbattlewouldneverhavebeenfought,ormorelikely,itwouldhavebeenabandonedbeforetheend.

Santiago’spridealsomotivateshisdesiretotranscendthedestructiveforcesofnature.Throughoutthenovel,nomatterhowbalefulhiscircumstancesbecome,theoldmanexhibitsanunflaggingdeterminationtocatchthemarlinandbringittoshore.Whenthefirstsharkarrives,Santiago’sresolveismentionedtwiceinthespaceofjustafewparagraphs.Eveniftheoldmanhadreturnedwiththemarlinintact,hismomentofglory,likethemarlin’smeat,wouldhavebeenshort-lived.ThegloryandhonorSantiagoaccruescomesnotfromhisbattleitselfbutfromhisprideanddeterminationtofight.

SantiagodreamshispleasantdreamofthelionsatplayonthebeachesofAfricathreetimes.Thefirsttimeisthenightbeforehedepartsonhisthree-dayfishingexpedition,thesecondoccurswhenhesleepsontheboatforafewhoursinthemiddleofhisstrugglewiththemarlin,andthethirdtakesplaceattheveryendofthebook.Infact,thesoberpromiseofthetriumphandregenerationwithwhichthenovellaclosesissupportedbythefinalimageofthelions.BecauseSantiagoassociatesthelionswithhisyouth,thedreamsuggeststhecircularnatureoflife.Additionally,becauseSantiagoimaginesthelions,fiercepredators,playing,hisdreamsuggestsaharmonybetweentheopposingforces-lifeanddeath,loveandhate,destructionandregeneration-ofnature.

Thisbookgivesmecourageofconqueringallkindsofdifficulties.AndIhavethebeliefthatthemostbeautifulthingistheprocessthatwemakeourbesttoachieveourdream,andneversaygiveup.