Question

How does Santiago feel about the fish that he is battling with?

• A. He hates it and wants to kill it as soon as possible
• B. He has sympathy and a strange appreciation for it
• C. C) He feels indifferent towards the fish.
• D. He feels angry at the fish for putting up a fight

Answer 1

Answer:

B. He has sympathy and a strange appreciation for it

Santiago's Complex Relationship with the Marlin in The Old Man and the Sea

• Santiago, the protagonist, develops a profound sense of sympathy and admiration for the giant marlin he battles for days. He views it not merely as prey, but as a noble and worthy adversary.
• He frequently refers to the fish as his "brother" or a "magnificent creature," highlighting his deep respect for its strength, dignity, and will to survive. This humanization of the fish underscores his unique bond with nature.
• Despite his intention to kill the fish for survival and proof of his skill, he feels a strange kinship with it, recognizing their shared struggle for existence and their individual prowess.
• Santiago's feelings reflect the novel's exploration of the man vs. nature theme, where the conflict is not one of animosity but of respect and mutual challenge.
• His appreciation stems from seeing the marlin as an embodiment of nature's power and beauty, an opponent that pushes him to his physical and spiritual limits, thereby affirming his own strength and will.

Key Facts and Context for Competitive Exams:

• Author: The Old Man and the Sea was written by Ernest Hemingway.
• Publication Year: It was published in 1952.
• Literary Awards: The novel earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and was cited as a major reason for his Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
• Genre: It is often classified as a novella or a short novel.
• Setting: The story is set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba.
• Main Characters: The primary characters are Santiago (the old fisherman) and Manolin (his young apprentice). The marlin itself is a central figure.
• Major Themes: Key themes include endurance, courage, man's relationship with nature, dignity in defeat, pride, and the resilience of the human spirit.
• Symbolism:
  • The marlin symbolizes nature's majesty, a worthy adversary, and the ultimate challenge.
  • The sharks represent the destructive forces of the world, both natural and man-made, that can strip away one's achievements.
  • Santiago himself symbolizes human endurance, courage, and dignity in the face of insurmountable odds.
• Hemingway's Style: The novella is a classic example of Hemingway's minimalist prose and his famous "Iceberg Theory" (or theory of omission), where much of the meaning is beneath the surface of the narrative.