Question

What happens to make Santiago curse the treachery of his own body?

• A. His hand cramps.
• B. He feels a sharp pain in his back
• C. His legs give way.
• D. His mind begins to wander.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. His hand cramps.

Understanding Santiago's Struggle in The Old Man and the Sea

• Santiago, the protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's novel The Old Man and the Sea, is an aging Cuban fisherman who endures an epic struggle against a giant marlin.
• The incident where Santiago curses the 'treachery of his own body' occurs when his hand cramps severely during his prolonged battle with the fish.
• This cramp is particularly debilitating as it affects his ability to hold the fishing line, which is crucial for controlling the marlin.
• The phrase 'treachery of his own body' highlights Santiago's deep connection to his physical form, which he views as both his instrument and, at times, his betrayer in the face of immense challenge.
• It underscores the theme of man versus nature, and more specifically, man versus his own physical limitations. Despite his immense willpower and skill, his body fails him.
• This moment emphasizes Santiago's resilience and determination; even when his body falters, his spirit remains unbroken. He sees the cramp not just as pain, but as an active betrayal by a part of himself.

Key Facts for Competitive Exams:

• Author: Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961), a prominent American novelist and short-story writer.
• Novel: The Old Man and the Sea was published in 1952.
• Awards: This novella earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and was cited by the Nobel Committee when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
• Setting: The story is set in the Gulf Stream waters off the coast of Havana, Cuba.
• Main Characters:
  • Santiago: The old, experienced fisherman.
  • Manolin: The young boy who admires Santiago.
  • The Marlin: The giant fish Santiago battles.
• Themes: Key themes include endurance, courage, defeat, personal triumph, the honor in struggle, man's relationship with nature, and the dignity of suffering.
• Hemingway's Style: The novel is a prime example of Hemingway's 'iceberg theory' or 'theory of omission,' where much of the underlying meaning is not explicitly stated but implied.
• The marlin's size is depicted as 18 feet long and weighing over 1,500 pounds.