Symbolism in The Old Man and the SeaPrepared by - Bathavar VirajeeCourse: - M.A. EnglishSemester: -3Enrolment no: - PG15101001Submitted to: - Smt. S.B.Gardi Dept. of English MKBUEmail id: - bathvarvirji@gmail.comPaper no: - The American Literature.

Introduction:

• The Old Man and the Sea “The old man and the sea” is

written by Earnest Hemingway.

• Published in 1952.• He was an American Author

and journalist.• He committed suicide in the

summer of 1961.

Symbolism:-

• What is symbolism? Symbolism is everywhere ; symbolism exists

whenever something is meant to represent something else.

“Symbolism means use of symbol like object, characters, figures or colour to represent abstract ideas, concept or qualities”

Symbolism in the Novella:-

• Sea • Base ball • Lion • Marlin and sharks • Numbers like, three, seven, forty

and eighty five • Crucifixion and Christianity

The Lions

• The lions is symbol of Santiago’s

Pride.• Santiago dreams of lions

twice, first in his bed in the Village and in his boat.

• The lions are also symbolized as Santiago’s affinity with nature

The marline• Marline symbolized as

strength and putting up such struggle.

• Marline represents both the perseveration of man’s social status and his incessant life powers.

• His brother• Mirror image

The Sharks

• Santiago considers the shark’s base predators, not worthy of glory. They represent destructive force in life that serve no purpose.

Symbol of Baseball• The novella introduced important symbol of baseball.• There is recurring reference to DiMaggio who symbolic Santiago's determination, will power, enthusiasm and physical strength at the age of 75 years.

Sea•According to Hemingway, man was most able to prove himself worthy in isolation.• The sea, in the novel represents the universe and Santiago's isolation in the universe.• It is at sea, with no help and no recognition, that Santiago faces his ultimate challenge.

Crucifixion and Christianity

• Old man’s struggle represents and compared with the struggle of Jesus Christ.

• Hemingway wrote that sound Santiago made while having the cramps were the same as the reaction “some would have having nail passed through their hand and into blood”

• The old man and Jesus suffered in many of the same ways.

• The old man was the fisherman of fish and Jesus was the fisher man of soul.

Conclusion

There are many symbols in this novella, with this symbols we can understand this novella in a better way.

In this novella Hemingway symbolized person, place or thing to represent the real meaning of his writing.

References :

• http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldman/themes.html

• http://www.slideshare.net/jinalparmar/symbolism-in-the-old-man-and-the-sea-40207880

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea

Thank you…