Illustration of a marlin in the water

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

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Themes: Resilience and the Human Spirit

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The novel’s most renowned and often cited line captures its core themes: “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” At the beginning of the story, Santiago has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish, yet his sea-colored eyes remain “cheerful and undefeated.” Variations of the resilience theme are plentiful, going beyond just physical stamina to emphasize an aspect of the human spirit that endures and prevails despite hardship and loss. Hemingway’s theme has a universal significance, implying that although someone may lose everything in life, including all possessions and loved ones, a journey embarked upon with skill, bravery, persistence, honor, and compassion can guarantee the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.

Expert Q&A

In The Old Man and the Sea, why wasn't the old man worried about weather or getting lost?

Santiago wasn't worried about the weather or getting lost because he was experienced and observant. He knew the weather patterns well, especially during hurricane months, and saw no signs of an impending storm. He understood the risks of going far out to sea but accepted them as necessary to break his streak of bad luck. His confidence in reading the sky and the sea reassured him of his safety.

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