Question

What does the weary warbler that lands on Santiago's fishing line make the old man think of?

• A. The predatory hawks that await the bird's arrival near land
• B. His youth and past fishing experiences.
• C. His long journey to catch the fish.
• D. The boy, Manolin.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. The predatory hawks that await the bird's arrival near land

Context of the Scene

• In Ernest Hemingway's novella, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, is far out in the Gulf Stream, engaged in an epic struggle with a giant marlin.
• During this arduous ordeal, a weary warbler, small and exhausted from its flight, lands on his fishing line.
• This moment provides a brief pause in Santiago's intense physical and mental battle, shifting his focus to the smaller creature.

Santiago's Empathy and Foresight

• Santiago observes the warbler with deep empathy, understanding its long, perilous journey across the sea.
• He recognizes the bird's vulnerability and its desperate need for land and rest.
• His thoughts immediately turn to the predatory hawks that await such exhausted birds near the coast. Santiago knows these hawks are a significant threat to the warblers once they approach land, often attacking them before they can fully recover.
• This reflects Santiago's profound understanding of the natural world's harsh realities and the constant struggle for survival that all creatures face.

Symbolism and Themes

• The warbler symbolizes vulnerability, innocence, and perseverance against overwhelming odds. Like Santiago, it is on a long, solitary journey, facing immense challenges.
• The hawks represent the inevitable dangers and predators that lie in wait, ready to exploit weakness.
• This scene serves as a foreshadowing device: just as the warbler faces unseen dangers near its destination, Santiago himself will face the relentless attack of sharks after he finally subdues the marlin, robbing him of his prize.
• It underscores the novel's central themes of the struggle for survival, the man's relationship with nature, and the idea that victory can be fleeting or come at a great cost.

Key Facts about The Old Man and the Sea

• Author: Ernest Hemingway.
• Publication Year: 1952.
• Literary Awards: It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953. This work was also cited when Hemingway received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
• Genre: Novella.
• Setting: The novella is set in the waters off the coast of Cuba and in a small fishing village near Havana.
• Main Character: Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman.
• Narrative Style: Hemingway's signature minimalistic and iceberg-theory style is evident, where much of the meaning is implied rather than explicitly stated.
• Central Conflict: Man vs. Nature (Santiago vs. the marlin/sharks), Man vs. Self (Santiago's internal struggle with age, doubt, and perseverance).