The document provides an analysis of symbolism in Ernest Hemingway's novella "The Old Man and the Sea". It discusses several key symbols in the story, including the sea representing life's journey, baseball symbolizing determination, lions symbolizing youth, the marlin representing challenges and worthy opponents, and sharks contrasting the marlin. Numeric symbols like three, seven, forty, and eighty-five are said to have religious significance. The document also analyzes parallels between Santiago and Jesus Christ, with Santiago's suffering crucifixion-like. In three sentences, the document analyzes symbolism in Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea", discussing symbols like the sea, baseball, lions,

1. Symbolism in The Old Man Of The Sea
Name : Radha Ghevariya
Roll No: 22
Paper : (10) The American
Literature
Enrollment No. : PG14101013
Year : 2015- ‘16
Email:
radhaghevariya55@gmail.com
Submitted to : Smt. S.B. Gardi
Department of English
Bhavnagar University

2. Introduction
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American
author and journalist. His economical and
understated style had a strong influence on
20th-century fiction, while his life of
adventure and his public image influenced
later generations. Hemingway produced most
of his work between the mid-1920s and the
mid-1950s, and won the Nobel Prize in
Literature in 1954. He published seven novels,
six short story collections and two non-fiction
works. After the publication of The Old Man
and the Sea in 1952, Hemingway went on
safari to Africa, where he was almost killed in
two plane crashes that left him in pain or ill-
health for much of the rest of his life.
Hemingway had permanent residences in Key
West, Florida, and Cuba during the 1930s and
1940s, but in 1959 he moved from Cuba to
Ketchum, Idaho, where he committed suicide
in the summer of 1961.

3. What Is Symbolism?
“ symbolism means use of
symbol like object,
characters, figures or colour
to represent abstract ideas ,
concept or qualities”

4. Symbolism in The Old Man And The Sea
* The element of symbolism is
presented in all the works of
Hemingway.
* His novel ‘The Old Man And The
Sea’ Hemingway’s uses of symbols
comes to climax in this novel.
* The novel is rich in symbolism,
images and motifs that enhance
both the plot and the theme.

5. Symbols in the Novella
Sea
Base
-ball
Lion
Marlin
and
Sharks
Number
Like
three,
seven,
forty and
eighty
five
Crucifixion
and
Christianit
-y

6. Symbolic
use of Sea
* The Sea represents the
Universe and Santiago's isolation
in the Universe.
* This Sea is symbol of life itself
man has to sail either it is sea or
life to go through.
* However , either it is life or sea
man has to embark journey and go
through it amid all possible odes.

7. * 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.
* Thus, DiMaggio is the role model
for Santiago and he symbolic
triumphant survival.

8. Symbol of Lion
* Hemingway has presented Lion. They
are little cubs who symbolism youthful
possibility and great things to come
Santiago often dreams of Lion playing on
African beach.
“ He no longer dreamed of storms ,
nor of women , nor of great
occurrences , nor of great fish…. He
only dreamed of places now and them
lion on the beach”

9. * Marlin , a magnificent and glorious
fish symbolizes the mysterious world
of sea which full of surprise and
challenges.
* Secondly the marlin symbolizes the
ideal and worthy opponent even
Santiago finds himself lucky to match
against a creature like marlin.
* Thirdly, it is only due to marlin both
Santiago and even we realize the
unexpected world of sea.

10. Continue….
* Marlin even presented as a
Christian allegory. Marlin is as clam
and cool as lord Jesus Christ was
though it is hooked by Santiago ; it
does not attack on him.
* However , the sharks are in great
contrast to marlin. The shoved hosed
sharks have attacked the marlin
thoughtlessly.

11. * The numeric symbolism in the novel
‘the old man and the sea’ seen to be
religious number or figures like three,
seven, forty and eighty-five have
special significance in the bible.

12. According to Carlos Baker ,
“Santiago shows certain
qualities of mind and heart ;
which are clearly associated
with the character and
personality of Jesus Christ in
the Gospel stories”

13. * Hemingway skillfully uses the crucifixion of
Jesus to highlight the suffering and pain of
Santiago.
* Thus, both Santiago and Jesus Christ
resembles in matter of humanitarians
perhaps, Hemingway may want to prove that;
“What a man can do and what
a man endure….”

14. conclusion