Question

During his great struggle with the marlin, what does Santiago wish repeatedly?

• A. A) He wishes for more strength.
• B. B) He wishes the fish would stop struggling.
• C. C) He wishes that the boy, Manolin, were with him.
• D. D) He wishes the fish would swim away.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. C) He wishes that the boy, Manolin, were with him.

The Old Man and the Sea: Santiago's Struggle and His Wish for Manolin

• During his epic struggle with the giant marlin, Santiago repeatedly wishes for the boy, Manolin, to be with him. This wish underscores Santiago's profound loneliness and highlights the crucial role Manolin plays in his life.
• Manolin's presence would provide practical assistance: The boy's youth and strength would be invaluable in handling the fishing line, bailing water, and maneuvering the skiff during the arduous battle.
• Manolin represents companionship and hope: Beyond practical help, Manolin is Santiago's only true companion and a symbol of his past success and future hope. His absence emphasizes Santiago's isolation and the immense burden he carries alone.
• Themes of mentorship and legacy: Santiago sees Manolin as his apprentice and spiritual son. His wish reflects his desire to share his knowledge and experience, and to not face such a monumental challenge without someone to witness and appreciate his struggle.
• The marlin struggle is a metaphor for Santiago's fight against nature, old age, and isolation, making his longing for Manolin even more poignant.

Key Facts about Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" for Competitive Exams:

• Author: Ernest Hemingway (American novelist and short-story writer).
• Publication Year: 1952.
• Genre: Novella (a short novel).
• Setting: The Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Cuba.
• Main Characters:
  • Santiago: An aging Cuban fisherman.
  • Manolin: A young boy, Santiago's former apprentice and devoted friend.
  • The Marlin: The giant fish Santiago battles.
• Major Themes:
  • Man vs. Nature: The central conflict between Santiago and the marlin.
  • Perseverance and Endurance: Santiago's unyielding spirit despite overwhelming odds.
  • Dignity in Defeat: Even though the marlin is ultimately lost to sharks, Santiago maintains his heroic stature.
  • Friendship and Mentorship: The profound bond between Santiago and Manolin.
  • Heroism and the Code Hero: Santiago embodies Hemingway's concept of a protagonist who displays grace under pressure.
  • Isolation and Solitude: Santiago's journey alone at sea.
• Literary Significance:
  • Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.
  • Cited specifically by the Nobel Committee when Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
  • It is considered one of Hemingway's most enduring works and a classic of American literature.
  • The novella is often interpreted through Hemingway's "iceberg theory" (or theory of omission), where much of the meaning is not explicitly stated but implied.
• Symbolism: The marlin symbolizes a worthy adversary and the beauty of nature; the sharks represent destructive forces; Santiago represents the enduring human spirit.