“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”
What an incredible thesis statement not only for this novella, but for life itself. There are few books I have read that so concisely and illustratively capture the experience of life itself. In The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway puts readers in the mind of Santiago, a down-on-his-luck elderly Cuban fisherman who in his old age struggles with poverty, the loss of his wife, loneliness, physical decline, and an overall sense of malaise. We follow Santiago as he sails out on his fishing skiff one day and hooks the biggest fish of his lifetime. Over the course of several days at sea, we follow Santiago’s quest to catch the proverbial big fish and return home with the prize of a lifetime.
This novella has so much to say in so few words. On the surface there is the charm of a fisherman’s tale, but below the surface Hemingway is reflecting on life’s great challenges. What does it mean to succeed or to fail? Where do we draw the line between man and beast? Is it worth it to take risks and push yourself outside your comfort zone? Is a perceived lack of ability, support, or preparedness a reason not to act, or just an excuse? What does it mean to be lucky? What is the tension between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations when we set goals?
Unlike The Sun Also Rises, which I found lacked thematic resonance, The Old Man and the Sea is full of rich allegory, symbolism, and references that I found far more impactful and to my taste. At the same time, Hemingway’s direct prose is still very present and strong here, and I remain awed by his ability to convey tone and emotion. In fewer than 100 pages, I was able to feel empathy for Santiago, awe at Hemingway’s descriptions of the sea and the stars, laugh at how Santiago talks down to the sharks, and grieve with Santiago as he experiences the loss of the fish.
The Old Man and the Sea is as good as it gets for a journey you can take in a single sitting.
The Once and Future Lit 