Introduction
Ernest Hemingway was a master of short, expressive prose. Moreover, he considered his “best prose” to be the story of a man who never gives up – “Old Man and the Sea.” The harmony of man and nature can be considered one of the main ideas in this work. The idea of a continuous connection between generations is also traced here in the example of the main characters.
Discussion
The main characters are the fisherman Santiago and the small boy Manolin. The boy adorns the loneliness of the fisherman and learned to fish from him. Manolin liked coming to Santiago’s and talking to him about the sea or baseball. Santiago and Manolin are kindred spirits despite being from different generations. However, the connection between them is obvious and speaks of the inseparability of one thing. The older man is already at the end of his life, but the boy, Manolin, will continue his work. After all, he is a talented student and knows that he was born to be a fisherman, like Santiago.
When the old man pulled the skeleton of a large fish ashore, everyone was only surprised at such a “miracle” (Hemingway). Moreover, only Manolin understood everything and admired the courage of his older friend. Santiago likely remained an unsuccessful fisherman for other people because the fish could not be pulled out whole. Nevertheless, Manolin knew that difficulties did not defeat the older man. His spirit was not defeated. Moreover, he will still try to catch the fish of his dreams, and his student will.
Santiago and Manolin’s relationship does not change due to the story’s premise because it only takes a few days over a short period. However, it becomes clear that the roles have changed as readers discover more about their past. When Manolin was first introduced, he had more of a mentor-apprentice relationship. It eventually developed into a caregiver relationship, with Manolin acting as the caretaker.
Conclusion
The absence of hate or resentment on either side of this shift is particularly significant. Santiago is not at all resentful of Manolin helping to take care of him. Ernest Hemingway shows that people’s essential deeds and talents do not disappear without a trace. Two generations—a man in his 80s and a boy—represent the idea that life goes on and that respect for the elderly influences hope for the future, the drive to live, and the desire to achieve new heights.
Work Cited
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Arrow Books, 1994.