Question

Santiago is compared with religious figure.

• A. Moses
• B. Christ
• C. Saint Peter
• D. Buddha

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Christ

Symbolic Parallels: Santiago and Christ in The Old Man and the Sea

• The Old Man and the Sea, a novella by Ernest Hemingway, features Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, as its protagonist.
• The novel is rich in symbolism, and Santiago is often interpreted as a Christ-like figure due to his suffering, endurance, and ultimate struggle against overwhelming odds.

• Key Parallels:

  • The Burden of the Mast: After returning to shore, Santiago carries the mast of his boat on his shoulders up the hill to his shack, a scene strongly evoking Christ carrying the cross to Calvary.
  • Wounds on the Hands: Santiago's hands are deeply cut and wounded by the fishing line as he battles the marlin. These wounds are often seen as symbolic of the stigmata (wounds of Christ's crucifixion).
  • Suffering and Perseverance: Santiago endures immense physical pain, exhaustion, and isolation during his struggle with the marlin, mirroring Christ's suffering and perseverance.
  • Sacrifice and Redemption: Though he loses the marlin to sharks, Santiago's epic struggle and his dignity in defeat can be seen as a form of sacrifice, offering a narrative of human spirit and resilience that transcends failure.
  • The 'Disciple' (Manolin): Manolin, the young boy who looks up to Santiago and learns from him, can be seen as a disciple figure, reflecting the relationship between Christ and his apostles.
  • Being Alone: Santiago fights the marlin alone for days in the vast ocean, emphasizing his solitary struggle, much like Christ's isolation during his passion.

• Contextual Facts for Competitive Exams:

  • Author: Ernest Hemingway, a prominent American novelist and short-story writer.
  • Publication Year: 1952.
  • Genre: Novella, allegory, tragic realism.
  • Awards: The Old Man and the Sea earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953. It was also cited by the Nobel Committee when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
  • Themes: The nobility of struggle, man's relationship with nature, defeat, victory, pride, honor, and the indomitable human spirit.
  • The novel is considered one of Hemingway's most significant works and a classic of American literature.