Suffering, at least in the snapshot the reader gets of the old man’s life, seems central. His body, which was not in a good state, to begin with, is forced to contend with three days at sea without real rest or respite from the pressures the hooked marlin imposes on his body. The line cuts into his hands and his back. He bears the weight of the fish as it pulls his skiff along. Once he gets to sea his suffering only increases. It’s seen through his small shack, the bed he sleeps on, his lack of food, and in the eyes of the other fishermen. He suffers without complaint in his poverty. It’s clear through context clues, as well as Manolin’s desire to care for the old man, that Santiago is very poor. The majority of the novel, whether Santiago is onshore or at sea, is punctuated by struggle. Of the variety of themes to be found in The Old Man and the Sea hardship and the perseverance needed to surmount those hardships is one of the most prominent. The Old Man and the Sea Themes Hardship and Perseverance Within the novella, a reader will come across complex themes of strength and perseverance, as well as symbols of perfection and age which are all addressed directly. Hemingway’s unique style of writing is exemplified through short, concise sentences and a factual approach to the events he portrays.
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