BOOK REVIEW
Reader's Choice
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
I read somewhere that to write about interesting stuff you need to have an interesting life.
Mr. Hemingway’s life story is as inspiring as it gets. Ernest Hemingway had an incredible life for better or worse. I mean the man survived two plane crashes just by one day apart! He was also into fishing and hunting; this book is a testament to that. It's widely believed that this book earned Hemingway a Nobel Prize in literature.
The Old Man and the Sea is one of those books that can reshape your perspective on one specific thing, in this case- Resilience.
It's about an old fisherman named Santiago who catches a one-of-a-kind Marlin fish, which happens to be the biggest fish he's ever caught. But the sea is not kind to humans or to any creature for that matter.
Though he does catch the fish, by the time he returns to the shore, none of it remains because the sharks start eating the fish’s body by the side of the boat. Thus, Santiago’s victory is short-lived as sharks gradually consume his prize, underscoring the relentless challenge of nature.
"A man can be destroyed but not defeated." - Ernest Hemingway
Reading this book is like a meditative experience which is similar to the act of fishing and the entire narrative is all about that. But this is deep-sea fishing we're talking about. As common people, we can't possibly fathom what that experience would feel like. Unless you've tried it hands-on. All we can do is feel it vicariously and this book is one of the best ways to do so.
All in all, It's about man's natural endeavor to keep moving forward and the struggle of the human condition.
Re-reading it has been such a refreshing experience for me. It takes me back to the time when I was at my lowest and I remember picking up the book one night late in December when I was a teenager.
I wasn't an avid reader back then but I was in very low spirits so I spent almost an entire night reading the book as an escape. Before that, I'd never finished a book in one sitting. That was quite a challenging experience for me.
I could resonate with the old man’s plight because I was under a lot of stress as well in those times. Yet I didn’t give up. I did what had to be done. And even though I couldn’t have the taste of success, at least I felt content that I put up a good fight.
Santiago’s journey to catch the fish is deeply intertwined with his internal struggles. His isolation and loneliness are palpable. Living in a small village, he is often dependent on the charity of others, which adds to his feeling of inadequacy. His quest for the marlin is more than just about catching a big fish; it’s a desperate attempt to prove his worth and regain his dignity. The weight of feeding himself and not being a burden to others pushes him to the limits of human endurance.
As he ventures out into the vast, lonely sea, Santiago battles not just the fish but his own mental demons. His hallucinations and conversations with the fish reveal his deteriorating mental health and profound need for companionship. The fish becomes his only companion, a symbol of his struggle against the unrelenting forces of nature and the inexorable passage of time.
You see, the modern man is lost, just like the Old Man in this book (Figuratively speaking). He’s in a state of conflict between the desire to get big fish and the weakness of giving up.
It’s a constant tug of war today between our attention and desire. There are a thousand distractions to keep you away from your purpose.
The only solution is to rebel. Build more resilience from societal expectations. Choose your own path and understand the world better. Remember what the Old Man said, “Let him think that I am more man than I am and I will be so.”
Parting Thoughts
The Old Man and the Sea is undisputedly one of the great works in American literature. I'd highly recommend you read this once in your lifetime if you want to learn a thing or two about perseverance and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
What I learned is, hope as much as you may, what brings change ultimately are your actions. Hope can do only so much; it is your actions that will take you far.
I believe as a young man or even a woman, there’s a lot to learn from this timeless classic. In the end, success could be snatched from you, but nobody can ever steal your tenacity!
Click the arrows to turn the pages.