Never Give Up by Taylor H.

I've never been the kind of person to give up on something I believe in, and I think that's something Santiago and I have in common. Santiago loves to fish, and he never once gave up on himself, or the fish. It takes a lot of strength, courage, and pride to stay out on the ocean, for cold endless nights just to catch the one fish of your dreams. “There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only one you." (23) Santiago knows how strong he is, and he’s never going to give up on what he loves.

When you want something really badly, you have to fight for it, and you can't give up on yourself or it no matter how hopeless it seems. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to become the best soccer athlete that I was capable of becoming. Days on end I would take my soccer ball to my back yard, and I'd just get a feel for it everyday, never giving up on my dreams.

My dad has always had a huge impact on how I play on the field. He's the one who made me have such a positive attitude towards the game and everything that I love. Since the day I stepped a foot onto the soccer field, I always knew that this was it. The soccer field was my home, my passion, and my place where I knew I could get away from everything. I not only looked upon all the outstanding athletes like Mia Hamm and David Beckham, but I looked further than that. I looked through the eyes of my seventh grade teacher. She was an amazing athlete who always knew exactly what words to say to keep me going. She drove her inspiring words into my head, and made me want to work harder, and become the athlete I am today.

After hooking the marlin Santiago realizes he can't kill the fish quickly, and it begins to tow him farther out to sea. The old man soon begins to recognize a bond between him and the marlin. "Now we are joined together and have been since noon. And no one to help either one of us" (50). This shows me that maybe the marlin could have been one motivate his mind, and keep him from giving up.

If there’s one lesson you should learn in life it’s to never give up on your dreams. No matter what you do, always tell yourself that you can do it, because if you set your mind to it, you can do it. If someone tells you that your dreams are too big and unrealistic, tell them that maybe there’s aren’t big enough. "Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends." (54) Even though Santiago loves the fish, he won’t give up his dreams to catch the big ones. If you have doubt that you can’t do something, or can’t be the best at something, overcome that, and proceed to doing your best, because the best things in life don’t come easy.

by Sam P.

As in many other stories, the main character faces many obstacles which they have to beat in order to reach their goal. This book is no different. The obstacles the Santiago manages to overcome are pretty impressive considering the conditions he was working in. The three main obstacles that Santiago is confronted with are his physical shape, equipment, and pride. All three of these took their toll on Santiago physically and mentally.

This fishing trip was extremely strenuous for the old man. First of all he was trying to complete this trip at the age of 84. I know of no other 84 year old who would even think about attempting this grueling trip alone. Also, Santiago suffers from rigor mortis in his left hand. The rigor mortis causes him a lot of pain during the trip. “God help me to have the cramp go,” (60). The pain that Santiago endures from the cramps is a major setback on a fishing trip. Another problem for Santiago was fatigue. Santiago is 84 years old and was out at sea for 85 days. He had very little food and very little water. With nothing to give Santiago energy, he grew very weak which made catching his dream marlin that much harder. Also, being out at sea for that long with little food and water made Santiago go a little crazy.

The Old Man and the Sea takes place in the late thirties early forties. The equipment that fisherman had back then was nothing compared to what it is now. Santiago really was unfortunate because not only was his equipment out of date but he was poor also so he couldn’t afford any new equipment. First of all Santiago’s boat is extremely small. The marlin was just as big as his boat. Boats today are much bigger and aren’t made of wood. “He is two feet longer than the skiff,” (63). Santiago also didn’t have the best fishing gear like rods and bait. All these things show what a disadvantage Santiago was at.

The third obstacle that Santiago faces is pride. Santiago was only supposed to be gone for about three days. He stayed out much longer than that just so he could prove to everyone that he was still a skilled fisherman. “Santiago,” the boy said. “Yes,” the old man said. “Can I go out to get sardines for you for tomorrow?” “No. Go and play baseball. I can still row and Rogelio will throw the net.”(12). This quote shows that the old man didn’t want the boys offer because he didn’t want other people to feel sorry for him. Santiago still had some pride left and he wanted to keep it.

As you can see Santiago overcame the challenges he was faced with and proved to everyone that he was still a worthy fisherman. Santiago used courage, bravery, and toughness to get through his long, laborious fishing trip and has earned the respect of many people.

by Sabrina M.

In The Old Man and the Sea, one character struggles a lot through powerful forces and obstacles. That character is Santiago. Poor Santiago is an aged man that is born to be a fisherman. Little does he know that there is a fish out in the sea that will make him go through many obstacles. This fish is not your ordinary fish, this fish has a tremendous amount of patience that the old man doesn’t have. In the end, the old man never gives up catching the fish.

Santiago is a poor man. He struggles to get money and buy food. “Have another coffee. We have credit here.”(27) In this quote it shows that the old man can’t even afford a cup of coffee. Not being able to afford food affects him in many ways. One way is by not having food or water to get stronger; he will be a weak fisherman. Without food or water, there is no chance surviving. On his journey, he was able to catch some albacore and other little fish that kept him full while trying to catch the fish.

Fishing for this Marlin took a lot of strength out of the old man, which made him suffer in many ways. He became weak, he began to cramp all over his body and he ran out of food and water. But the main suffering was cramping. He could barely feel his hands from holding the fishing pole in one position for a long time. “God help me to have the cramp go.”(60) Santiago is at the point he is begging God for help. This goes to show you that Santiago doesn’t give up. He is still striving for what he wants.

Just as Santiago thought the Marlin belonged to him, it sure didn’t.” It was an hour before the first shark hit him.”(100) the Marlin is a gigantic fish that a lot of people would die to have. It could feed many people and sharks. And I guess you could say it did feed many sharks. On his way home, he had to face sharks. He didn’t have the appropriate weapons to do this. He only had a knife, harpoon, ore, little piece of rope and his bare hands. But each time a shark came around, Santiago prepared him self for whatever was coming next. Each shark had taken a piece of the Marlin whether the shark died or not. In the end, he was left with nothing.

To me, Santiago can’t get anymore successful then he has. I mean, I’d like to see someone today go out there on a little paddle boat and sit there chasing a Marlin for a number of days and at the same time try to survive and fight sharks. Also, he had to try to take care of himself. Honestly, I don’t think anyone could do it. That is why I think Santiago is a successful man. Even though he came back with no Marlin, he still came back with unforgettable memories

by Melissa B.

In the book The Old Man and the Sea Santiago faced many challenges. Santiago had bad luck for 84 days straight. But that didn’t bother him. He was so convinced that he will go out in the smallest boat beyond where the other fishers go and catch the biggest fish. A few of the challenges he had were, him trying to catch the big marlin, his rigor mortis in his hand and the boy Mandolin.

Santiago tried so hard to catch the marlin that he would do anything to get it. He had bad luck of catching one for 84 days then finally the 85^th day came. As Santiago reeled in the fish for hours he grew very tired, dehydrated, impaction and his rigor mortis started to get to him. “For an hour the old man had been seeing black spots before his eyes, and the sweat salted his eyes and salted the cuts over his eyes and on his forehead. He was not afraid of the black spots. They were normal at the tension that he was pulling on the line. Twice that had worried him. “I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this,” he said.”” (Pg 87) This quote is showing how he is getting dehydrated from all the hard work that he is doing to try to catch the marlin. But the part of the quote where he spoke shows that he is not giving up soon and will do anything to get that Marlin.

The old man’s rigor mortis in his had got to him and made his hand cramp-up while fishing. He tends to talk to his hand and gets mad at it. Since his hand was so cramped up he could not catch the big fish. He had to try to straighten it out so the he could hold the line and catch the fish. “What kind of hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.” (Pg 58) In this quote the old man is talking to his hand and he is questioning why it is cramping up because it is not helpful and there is no way he can use a cramped-up hand.

Santiago is always thinking about the boy. They have a very good relationship together. They spend a lot of time together talking about baseball and fishing. “The Yankees cannot lose.” “But I fear the Indians of Cleveland.” “Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.” (Pg 17) This conversation between Santiago and Mandolin shows how much they talked about baseball together and share the love for the sport. Mandolin looks up to the old man and wants to fish just like Santiago when he grows up. Since Mandolin’s parents wouldn’t let him fish with the old man he went out to sea trying to catch fish by himself. He often thought about the boy when he was out there and wished that he was there with him. “If the boy was here he would wet the coils of the line, he thought. Yes. If the boy were here. If the boy were here.” This quote shows that Mandolin could have been a very big help to the old man and good company as well.

Santiago finally caught the marlin that he wanted so bad. Although a shark got to it he still had a big piece of the fish left. Santiago worked so hard to get the marlin; he never gave up. He also worked through his rigor mortis and had his hand cramped for days because of it. Santiago missed Mandolin a lot when he was on the boat. Because he was always thinking about Mandolin he never gave up. Mandolin kept the old man going while he was alone and fishing for his dream.

By Kyle C.

In real life and in novels, people battle conflicts that they must get through in everyday life. This is no different in The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago is an 84 year old man who has many obstacles in his way to conquer his dream of catching a marlin. Santiago has to overcome obstacles that are physically and mentally draining. Obstacles that Santiago must fight are fatigue, lack of equipment, and doubt. All three of these are bringing Santiago down and he wonders if he will ever capture the marlin.

While trying to capture the marlin, Santiago is affected by fatigue. Santiago is 84 years old and he is trying to capture a 1,000 pound marlin. Santiago does not have the strength that is equivalent to the marlin and the fish is slowly fatiguing the old man. “I’m tireder than I have ever been, he thought, and now the trade wind is rising.” (89). Santiago’s energy is also wearing down because he knows that either he or the fish will be injured from this incredible battle. Fatigue is only one of the many obstacles that Santiago must go through to capture the great marlin.

Another obstacle that Santiago is dealing with is lack of equipment. Santiago is a skilled fisherman, but his lack of equipment makes it tough for him to fish at his highest skill level. His fishing line is very thin and is not the size you want to capture a gargantuan marlin. Also, because of his lack of supplies, he had to use his hands to hold onto the line and he started to get cramps in his hand. “It was only a line burn that had cut his flesh. But it was in the working part of his hand. He knew he would need his hands before this was over and he did not like to be cut before it started.” (57). Having these cramps in his hand, Santiago was not 100 percent and struggled to fish with practically one hand. He has to create his own weapons to fight off sharks and other predators and this whole trip would be much easier if Santiago had the proper equipment.

Throughout Santiago’s long journey, he doubted himself and was unsure that he would ever catch the marlin. Santiago was extremely unlucky and the other fishermen at the tavern would make fun of him and laugh at him. This didn’t bring Santiago’s hopes down, but after being out on the ocean for so long, having cramps in his hand, and not having the correct equipment, he doubted himself. “I do not know, the old man thought. He had been on the point of feeling himself go each time. I do not know. But I will try it once more.” (93). Santiago had doubted himself many times, but he had a little determination left and he knew this was his best chance to catch a fish of a lifetime.

All three of Santiago’s obstacles while trying to catch the fish were all intriguing in different ways. They all show that if you want to achieve your goal, you are going to have to work hard for it. There are always going to be obstacles between you and your dreams, and you have to find away to get around them. That is exactly what Santiago did, finding different ways to catch the marlin with many disadvantages. He was fatigued with injuries and didn’t have the correct equipment, but was persistent and ended up catching the marlin. The Old Man and the Sea gave life lessons that are helpful in life. The book shows that if you have goals that you want to reach in life, you need intelligence, determination, and effort. Santiago had all three of these traits and that is why he was victorious in catching the great marlin

by Katie T.

Every good story has a good meaning to them that the reader can relate to and apply them to their own lifestyle. The message from this story, Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, is to never give up. You should stay with your goal and strive for the best. Giving up, in my eyes, is just an excuse for lazy people to say they don’t feel like it. I’ve never been the type of person to give up on something I am passionate about. Whether it’s with sports, school or life in general I am never giving up. I am always working my hardest to keep myself in line. I think that’s what Santiago and I have in common. He never gave up on the fish; he was determined to get the marlin. Most people usually would have given up on the second day but Santiago waited until the 82^nd day to get the fish and it took him three days to catch it. That shows a lot of dedication.

In the book, Old Man and the Sea, Santiago becomes very strong and helps himself through the hardest times. “You better be fearless and confident, old man,” Santiago says to himself, “You’re holding him but you cannot get line. But soon he has to circle” (84). He is convincing himself to stay with the fish with the conditions as hard as they are. Santiago is his own self motivator. The marlin is as strong as he and the marlin will put up a good fight so he has to stay strong and never give up.

I can relate to this theme a lot. I have never given up on something I love. For example, this week is lacrosse tryouts. Every day has been three hours long. It is long and painful. I am busting my butt to do everything right and not mess up so I can look good. I never even think about stopping or giving up. No matter how much I want to just stop and go home, I convince myself that I am here for a reason. To play lacrosse, it’s what I love to do. In the book, “Fish,” he said softly aloud, “I’ll stay with you until I am dead.” Santiago is telling the fish that he will do whatever it takes to kill him even if it means to kill himself. He is sticking with fishing just how I am with lacrosse.

Santiago faced a lot of struggles throughout the story as well and yet he still never gave up. He hurt his hand on the line. He was holding the line for to long and his hand got stiff and couldn’t move. Santiago had thoughts it was rigor mortis. On page 59, Santiago talks to his hand, “Now,” he said, “You can let go, hand, and I will handle him with the right arm alone until you stop your nonsense.” I consider this quote very important; it shows that through the physical struggles he still withstands the pressure of the ocean. Many people would have let go of the line by now. Santiago didn’t. Also, Santiago missed the young boy, Manolin very much. He wanted to be with the boy so he took charge of the marlin, so he could go home.

Every person around the world can take this message and apply it to their own life. This theme is very crucial to the book as well; even though Santiago was going through so much during his trip he took the risk and never gave up. I learned that you can’t give up whenever things go wrong; you have to stay calm and strong. It’s the type of thing that every person, everywhere, should keep in mind when things aren’t going the way they want. You have to believe in yourself and that’s the one thing that you have to understand to not ever give up.

by Jess G.

In our life we are faced with many challenges that affect everything we do from that point on. In The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, this is very true for Santiago. Throughout the novella, Santiago, a poor fisherman barely getting by, is faced with almost death situations and somehow finds the will power to come out alive. Some of these crucial situations are struggling with fatigue, having to face killer sharks without the proper equipment, and having no food or water.

In the novella there were many times where Santiago struggled with fatigue. “But he felt faint again. He lifted some water with his left hand and put it on his head. Then he put more on and rubbed the back of his neck.” (88). This quote shows that the sun was really getting to him and he was probably going to pass out soon. “The old man felt faint and sick and he could not see well.” (94). This quote also shows how he was getting close to being dehydrated. The old man suffered because he was so despite to catch a fish. He wanted it to prove to himself that he wasn’t unlucky; he also needed to prove to the other fishermen that he still had it in him. He needed the respect back.

Having to face killer sharks is one thing, but having to do it without the proper equipment is totally different. Santiago had only what he needed to fish and that wasn’t a lot at all. Santiago, being so intelligent though, didn’t need all fancy things to protect him. All of it would have been nice but it was just unfortunate that he was on the poorer side, and didn’t have it. Santiago killed the sharks that came to get his prized fish with his harpoon, a little knife, ore, a little rope, and his bare hands. “He prepared the harpoon, and made the rope fast while he watched the shark come on. The rope was short as it lacked what he had cut away to lash the fish.” (101).

Not eating for four days is pretty harsh. For Santiago it was even worse seen as with trying to catch the fish he was losing energy that his body couldn’t replace. “He leaned over the side [of the boat] and pulled loose a piece of the meat of the fish where the shark had cut him.” (106). He was so desperate for food that he started to eat a little of his marlin. Even though he could really use the money he needed to live more, and that was the only food he had..

Santiago struggled more in those four days than most people do in their lifetimes. From fatigue to sharks, and then to not having any food or water Santiago didn’t have it too well.. Through all of this though, he didn’t lose hope. He kept at the marlin. He was determined to get it and earn his respect back. Almost dying wasn’t in his mind at all. He was always only thinking about what people would say when he brought back the monster fish.

The Struggles of Santiago by Chloe S.

Everyone struggles with powerful obstacles that affect their character, and determine what kind of a person they really are. Such is true for the old fisherman Santiago in Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man and the Sea. After 84 days of bad luck, Santiago ventured out on the ocean and was faced with loneliness, his own physical limitations, and dangerous sharks. These troubles help shape who Santiago is.

Santiago used to be married, but his wife was gone. In his small home “Once there had been a tinted photograph of his wife on the wall, but he had taken it down because it made him too lonely to see it” (16). The other fisherman in the village ignored or made fun of him. Santiago’s only friend and companion was Manolin, a young boy who he fished with. After all Santiago’s bad luck however, Manolin was forbidden to fish with him. When Santiago went out on the sea to catch the giant marlin, he had no one to help him, and no one to talk to. At various times during the story, Santiago commented on how he wished Manolin was there. But he didn’t let his loneliness bring him back to shore, which shows his bravery. Sometimes the journeys you take by yourself are the most important, because everyone needs time alone to think.

Santiago was not exactly a young man, unlike the other fisherman in his village. During his battle with the marlin however, the labor Santiago struggled with is labor intended for younger men. The marlin pulled the boat for a long time, while Santiago tightened and gripped ropes. He got cramps and rigor mortis in his hands from working so hard. He was especially frustrated by his physical limitations when “He could feel the steady hard pull of the line and his left hand was cramped. It drew up tight on the cord and he looked at it in disgust” (58). He also went long periods of time without food or sleep, and had to deal with fatigue and exhaustion. Other men would have given up, but for Santiago it seemed as if the wearier he was, the harder he tried.

When Santiago finally did hook the marlin and was taking it back, he was faced with something more dangerous. Sharks, attracted by the marlin’s blood, began to swarm his small boat. They weren’t nice either, “They were hateful sharks, bad smelling, scavengers as well as killers. And when they were hungry they would bite at an oar or the rudder of a boat” (107). They began to gnaw at the dead marlin that Santiago had tried so hard to catch. Santiago exerted tremendous effort to ward them off, and he was fighting for more than just a fish. He was fighting for respect, and for a broken streak of bad luck. But the sharks came in groups, and were enormous. Pretty soon the marlin was reduced to bones. Santiago had to accept the fact that the marlin was gone.

Even though in the end, the sharks destroyed the marlin, Santiago was not defeated. He had done what he’d wanted to do from the start. He faced the deep, immense ocean with no one but himself to talk to, but wasn’t scared about being alone. Santiago didn’t think twice about old age, cramps, or fatigue. He risked his life without hesitation, and showed amazing strength. And when the sharks came, Santiago gave everything he had to prevent them from eating the marlin. When he got home he realized that it wasn’t about actually catching the marlin. It was about how he did it, with courage and determination. The obstacles affected him positively, because if there hadn’t been anything to overcome, his voyage wouldn’t have been as meaningful. The other fishermen knew that Santiago’s journey had been a success, and Santiago knew it too.

By Caulien C.

In the book the Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway, Santiago has set out to sea on his 85^th day of unlucky fishing to try and turn his unluckiness around. As he is out at sea his line hooks a giant marlin, larger than his skiff! He spends four days with this fish and finally catches it. After catching the great fish, it gets attacked by roaming sharks that had followed the scent of fish blood from a mile away. As the sharks attacked Santiago fought till the end to keep his fish safe. As Santiago returned home, he was defeated physically, but he knew in a couple of days he’d be out at sea again trying to catch more fish. Even through all those troubles and problems, Santiago has never given up on anything.

Talking about this theme has made me think about how I can relate to it. As I play sports I can understand that you can never give up. Sometimes when I’m on the court playing basketball or when I’m swimming a longer race than usual, I get tired and feel like quitting, but I can’t because I’d be letting my team down and also myself. I must stick with what I am doing until I am finished. As Santiago has said to the fish as it pulls him across the sea, “’Fish,’ he said softly, aloud, ‘I’ll stay with you until I am dead.’”(52). And Santiago did stay with the fish the whole time after that.

As Santiago faces all these troubles he knows that he cannot give up. It’s not just, not giving up; it’s also that he wants to make the boy proud. He wants the boy to look at him as a hero of some sort. He wants to prove this to boy when saying, “’I told the boy I was a strange man,’ he said. ‘Now is the time to prove it.’”(66) He wants to be as famous as when he had hand wrestled against the Negro, “and at daylight when the bettors were asking that it be called a draw and the referee was shaking, [Santiago] had unleashed his effort and forced the hand of the negro down and down until it rested on the wood.” He wants people to look at him like he’s amazing and lucky, not an unlucky fisherman.

Also there is a very strong relationship between the boy and Santiago. Even though Santiago has been a very unlucky person for the past 84 days, the boy has still wanted to come with him on his fishing trips. Though Santiago is getting old too, the boy is always there to help the old man. Manolin will never give up on the man, until he dies. He wants to fish with the old man as he says, “’I do not care. I caught 2 yesterday. But we will fish together now for I still have much to learn.’” As Santiago sets out to sea, one of his lines gets caught by a huge marlin. The Marlin pulls him and his skiff for a few days and finally comes up. Through the time he has spent waiting for the marlin he goes through many troubles but he got through them. He had killed some sharks and injured plenty, fighting for the fish. But he never gave up on it.

Santiago has had a great experience and has gotten even wiser than before. He starts to understand the sea even better. Even though he had not been able to really bring the whole fish home, and it seems that all the fighting and pushing himself was a waste of time, and he knew that it would be very difficult, but he loves the sea. He said that he was to fish, so it must be in his blood to do things like that. He probably hopes that the boy will have the same experience as he did.

Santiago's Obstacles by Tessa H.

In our world today many people struggle with different obstacles to continue to motivate them selves and continue living. From recently reading the Old Man and the Sea, throughout the whole book, the main character Santiago has to go through many obstacles’ that affect his fishing trip. This includes both mental and physical battles. To me the struggles that stood out most were his lack of supplies, being alone, and his bad luck.

Santiago set sail for the big fishing trip by himself with small items and the skiff. In his mind he was not prepared for those 4 days was going to be on the small boat. He had only brought along one water bottle with him. “For an hour now the old man had been seeing back spots before his eyes… he had felt faint and dizzy and that worried him”(87). The old man had become very weak and dehydrated from his lack of water for 4 days. Along with having a lack of water the old man had brought no food on his journey. The old man had become so hungry, after the first day he finally picked up his gaff, and began to hunt for tuna. He caught some, but they didn’t last long. He was still hungry. Dolphins sounded his boat, and tempted the old man to gaff them as well. Inside of the dolphin the old man found jumping fish to snack on, because he didn’t like the taste of dolphins.

Beside the fact that the old man had no supplies, he was very alone as well. Santiago was very upset with the decision that the boy had made, but had finally faced the facts that he was going to be going on the fishing trip alone. While out on the boat, the old man begins talking to himself. He doesn’t even notice it at first; aloud he said “I wish the boy were here… I wish I had that boy” (50-51). He keeps saying it because he knows it will be harder for him to catch the marlin without a young persons hand by his side. He also began to talk to fish, birds and eventually the marlin because of his loneliness.

As I stated before, Santiago had been out for 84 days trying to catch a Marlin. Everyone thought that he had bad luck or was “cursed”. “…after forty days without a fish the boys parents had told him that the old man was not definitely and finally salao, which is the world form of unlucky”..(1) He even started to believe it him self. Santiago had never caught a good fish, unless it was on the 85^th day. That is why he wasn’t a threat to other boats. Many other fisher men had joked around, saying he wont ever catch anything either.

Over all Santiago had over come many obstacles and challenges, whether it was his lack of supplies, his lonesomeness, or his bad luck. Santiago always got through what ever challenge that was thrown at him. By having these obstacles, it made Santiago more determined, and dedicated to catch the marlin. He also proved to himself he can do anything you can put him mind to.

By Sam C.

In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, an old man named Santiago is faced with many horrendous obstacles he must overcome while at sea. All of these obstacles are physical or psychological, and Santiago has to find a way to get pass them and carry on with his fight to catch the marlin he has been after for a long while. He was never a lucky man and this catch could gain him the respect he has wanted. Throughout this story, Santiago is faced with excruciating pain in his hand, loneliness, and the fact he brought inadequate supplies.

Pain is one of the various things Santiago has to overcome in this novella. While the marlin pulls him through the Gulf of Mexico, his hand becomes cramped up into a claw shape. “ ‘How do you feel hand?’ He asked the cramped hand that was almost as stiff as rigor mortis, ‘I’ll eat some more for you.’ ” (58-59). This quote shows the determination that Santiago has and how he will do anything and everything in his power to make sure he has his strength to catch the marlin.

While out at sea, Santiago becomes very lonely. You can tell he is becoming lonely because he keeps repeating the words, “I wish I had the boy.” (51). The boy, Manolin, and Santiago have and have had a strong relationship. Even though Santiago didn’t have much luck Manolin always stuck by him and helped him. When he is lonely his mind roams thinking about old memories. Then, while out at sea, a bird lands on the skiff and Santiago begins to talk to it. “ ‘How old are you?’ The old man asked the bird, Is this your first trip?’ ” (55). This quote signifies that he is so lonely he will talk to anyone, including the bird.

A fisherman must always have adequate supplies to make it through their fishing trips, but Santiago believed his trip would only last a day. He obviously thought wrong. While at sea Santiago says to himself “ ‘You should have brought many things,’ he thought. ‘But you did not bring them, old man.’ ” (110) I think he felt somewhat disappointed in himself because he wasn’t as prepared as a fisherman should be. The lack of food made him tired which made it much harder for him to put up a fight against the 1,000-pound marlin.

Santiago’s experiences out in the Gulf of Mexico were very rewarding for him, but were also a painful experience. He has gained respect of the men in his village because of the massive marlin he roped in. Even though the marlin lost most of its meat from the sharks, Santiago gained wisdom for the next time he goes out fishing. He learned to bring an adequate supply of food and tools. In this story we have heard about an old man’s determination through pain, loneliness, and lack of food. If you have enough belief in yourself and enough determination you can overcome anything which was clearly portrayed by Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

The Old Man's Obstacles by Melissa O.

Without the struggles Santiago has to endure throughout his journey, he may not have been as determined in catching the marlin. In the novella entitled The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago is the old man struggling for 4 days trying to break his bad luck streak and catch a large fish. If he does so he will no longer be poor and will gain respect from all of the other fishermen. While out at sea the old man deals with physical and emotional struggles. There were many times any other person may have given up and admitted defeat.

After being in the boat for quite some time, Santiago finally hooks the great marlin. The problem is that since the marlin is so large, he must wait for it to rise to the surface so he can spear and kill it. Unfortunately, the fish ends up holding on and putting up a fight for a long time. Since Santiago is older, he is easily fatigued, but still manages to do his best. He becomes very tired and hasn’t been able to sleep that much. He is not only tired, but his left hand begins to cramp and ache from holding the line with the marlin. If his hand does not stop cramping he may not be able to hold onto the fish and lose everything he had worked so hard for. “God hell me to have the cramp go, he said. Because I do not know what the fish is going to do (60).” With his strong determination he was able to struggle through the pain and keep his mind on the prize.

Santiago had not expected to be out for 4 days trying to catch the great marlin. Being alone in a small skiff for such a long period of time must have been extremely hard, especially for a man of his age. There are numerous times when he wishes the boy Manolin was there to see and help in the catching of the fish. “Then he said aloud, I wish I had the boy. To help me and to see this. No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. But it is unavoidable (48).” Catching the marlin would have been much easier I there was someone there to help. They could take turns resting, fishing and holding the line, it would have been much less lonely and Santiago would have had someone to talk to instead of himself.

Fishing would have been much easier if Santiago would have been better prepared. He should have brought food, water and a blanket even if he wasn’t sure of how long he would be out there. But if he had better fishing equipment he might not have been out there for so long. The only problem is that he does not have any money. The boy really loved him and he felt bad when Santiago would never come home with anything, especially for 84 days in a row. “It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his skiff and he always went down to help him carry either the coiled lines or the gaff and harpoon and sail that was furled around the mast. The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat (9).” I think that the boy is a great person for always helping the old man even though he doesn’t have too and there is nothing in it for him.

Santiago struggled physically from the pain in his hand and the lack of supplies. He struggled emotionally from missing the boy. It is amazing that Santiago was able to suffer through everything and still catch the fish. It took a lot of self control to push through but he did it. Even though he caught the fish he made no money since the shark ate most of it. He still was rewarded with respect from all the other fishermen. That seemed to be enough for Santiago.

by Julia L.

Many stories are teeming with characters struggling to overcome obstacles, to prove themselves to others and, more importantly, to keep his own confidence alive. In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago works through many struggles in his great feat after the marlin. Some of these struggles include a frustrating lack of supplies, physical fatigue, and the numerous antagonists against him. Santiago works through these problems in his old age to eventually conquer the marlin and prove he is an admirable fisherman.

The least life-threatening of Santiago’s troubles is the threat of inadequate supplies. When he heads out to sea, he only brings what is critically necessary under the belief that he will only be gone one day. He has only brought one harpoon, and when he loses that is left with a few somewhat ineffective weapons. Then, when there is only a knife left, it becomes dull and he wishes he brought a stone to sharpen it so it would a weapon worth using. “I should have brought a stone. You should have brought many things, he thought.” (110) He would have also been a lot better off if he had brought some food and a first aid kit.

Santiago also suffers from lack of sleep, a cramping hand, and malnourishment. He has been in the little skiff for so long that his whole body is becoming stiff. “You’re feeling it now, fish, and so, God knows, am I,” he said (56). Santiago feels that in his old age he has been still long enough to start cramping. “…his hand was cramped. It drew up on the heavy cord and he looked at it in disgust.” (58). It starts when he gets rigor mortis in his hand. He is also suffering from lack of sleep. He has to be on the guard twenty- four seven in cases the marlin does something, which doesn’t leave much time for sleep. That, along with the malnourishment from failing to bring any food, has left him physically fatigued.

Throughout the book, many different characters work against Santiago. First the marlin itself is fighting for its life, which Santiago is trying to take. It takes him three days to catch the marlin and by then he is stretched to his limits. The sharks coming after his marlin do not help his cause either. “And he was the biggest dentuso that I have ever seen. And God knows I have seen big ones” (103). Santiago is speaking of the incredibly big and strong sharks that are coming to take a piece of his prize fish. By the time the sharks are done with the marlin, it is nothing but a meatless skeleton and the old man believes they have won when he says “They beat me, Manolin, they truly beat me” (124).

Santiago went through a fantastic journey on his four days at sea. He proved to himself that he is still a good fisherman and he broke his dry spell. He worked through the frustration of not having the supplies he needed. He suffered through the physical pain and built up his inner strength in order to persevere. More importantly, Santiago pulled out that inner strength and beat the antagonists set on ruining his goals. He believes he was beaten, but who is to say that when he has obviously gone above and beyond expectations.

By Olivia N.

Everyone, throughout their entire lives will go through obstacles, large and small, that they have to overcome. Santiago had many obstacles to face while he was out fishing and when he wasn’t. Someone once told me to think of my obstacles as a wall. Some walls are pretty short, and you can just step right over them, others require a running start and a leap of faith, some are so big, you’ll need someone to help you get over, and sometimes the only way to get past them is to just break them down.

One obstacle that almost killed Santiago was that he wasn’t adequately supplied for the fishing trip. All that he’d brought with him was the water. It wasn’t much water either, about one day’s worth, and he was out there for four. What he really needed was lots of food and water, enough to last him for at least a week, as well as protection from the sun and few more knives for self defense. “‘I wish I had some salt’”(59). If he’d brought some salt with him then he could’ve preserved the fish and had more to eat. If he’d brought more knives or spears or something he might’ve been able to hold the sharks off longer.

After holding on to the line the marlin was pulling for hours, it took an effect on him. “He could feel the steady hard pull of the line and his hand was cramped.” (51). He had pain in his back and he needed to rest. He had to sleep for a few hours and he cut up the albacore and ate it because he needed the strength to continue. Then his hands got all sliced up from the lines and his left hand cramped. By the time he arrived back at the dock he could hardly stand up and passed out as soon as he reached his shack, only waking up when the boy came.

Another big obstacle in Santiago’s life was the sharks “The shark closed fast astern and when he hit the fish the old man saw his mouth open and his strange eyes and clicking chop of the teeth as he drove forward in the meat just above the tail.”(101). Santiago spent 4 days out on the ocean catching the marlin, and after all his hard work, when he finally caught the marlin that was bigger than his boat, the marlin that didn’t give up for 4 days, the marlin that would make him rich and famous, the marlin that almost killed him, the sharks closed in for the kill. Of course Santiago tried to fight them off, he killed one with the harpoon, with the knife and with an oar, and soon all he had left to get rid of the sharks were his hands. And the sharks just kept coming and coming, and eating more and more of the marlin each time, and eventually the sharks got the best of him. He was so weary and worn out he could barely move, 4 days of fighting the marlin, and then the sharks had gotten the best of the old man. By the time he had reached the shore he didn’t care any more.

There were many obstacles keeping Santiago from achieving his goal. Obstacles that he had to overcome to show people that he wasn’t just some unlucky old man and that he was in fact a skilled fisherman. His entire journey was a struggle, there were many things that might’ve caused others not as determined as Santiago to just quit.

By Lorna M-R

Santiago, the old man from The Old Man and the Sea, faces many challenges over the course of the novella. Ernest Hemingway, the author, depicts Santiago as a strong old fisherman that does not give up on himself, even though he begins to crumble. The obstacles he is faced with push him to his limits, and even begin to slowly kill him. As he begins to overcome them, and he slowly builds his confidence, he realizes that even though he is an old man, he does have a chance to catch the fish. He struggles with his body, his conscience, and of course with the fish. In the end, the obstacles take a toll on his mental awareness. Still, endless determination helped him to be strong and keep chasing after the marlin until he caught it.

When Santiago’s body begins to fail him, he struggles and realizes his age and his famine. The old man had to always be alert of the fish, and his fishing line, but it was difficult while one of his hands was cramped and numb. “He woke with the jerk of his right fist coming up against his face and the line burning out through his right hand. He had no feeling of his left hand but he braked all he could with his right and the line rushed out” (82). Even when his hands were in pain, the old man continued to try to catch the fish. He was also forced to sleep with the fishing line on his back, which was just as painful as his cut-up and cramped hands.

During his journey, Santiago was famished without food or water. When people lack the natural resources they need to survive, sometimes it can alter their state of mind. When Santiago’s hand was hurting him, he started talking to it, and he talked to himself, even though a hand could obviously not talk back to him. “’You did not do so badly for something worthless,’ he said to his left hand. ‘But there was a moment when I could not find you’” (85). He was lonely, and his hand was one of the only things that were left for him to talk to.

While the old man was pursuing the fish, the marlin gave him many problems. The fishing line cut his hands when the fish circled around in the water, and the fish also never gave up. This meant that the old man had to struggle for many days to catch the fish. Even after he caught the fish, it still gave him trouble. Since the fish was so big, the old man had to tie it to the side of his boat, which attracted sharks. “The two sharks closed together and as he saw the one nearest him open his jaws and sink them into the silver side of the fish, he raised the club high and brought it down heavy and slamming onto the shark’s broad head” (113). The sharks ate the fish, and therefore made the old man’s journey practically pointless.

The old man is faced with struggles that compromise his self-esteem, confidence, and even his mental health, but he persevered through it all. He overcame everything that he was faced with, and he never lost his will to catch the fish. Even though he lost the fish in the end, he didn’t let the sharks ruin his journey. He was proud of himself, and he made the boy proud too.

by Lauren B.

Every person in real life, and every character in a book, faces daily struggles and obstacles that they have to find a way to overcome. Santiago, the main character from The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemmingway, faces an immense amount of issues and difficulties during the duration of the story. Each struggle the man overcomes increases the intensity level of the story. Three things the old man had to deal with while at sea was his hand, the physical and mental battle with the marlin, and loneliness.

Santiago, like many other elderly men, was very lonely. Santiago was an aging widower with only one friend; Manolin. Manolin was a young boy who fished on Santiago’s boat in previous years. In Santiago’s empty life, the boy was the one person who kept him company. After 84 days without catching a fish many of the other local fishermen started to look down on Santiago. Manolin’s parents believed that Santiago’s boat was unlucky and didn’t allow him to fishing on that boat any longer. Santiago became very forlorn. On his 85^th day at sea, the old man was all by himself. Being out at sea with no one to talk to or help you fish can make you lonely. You can tell the man feels this way when he thinks to himself, “I wish I had the boy” (45). Being lonely can bring down your spirit and make you feel hopeless and doomed for failure, but the old man does not let this happen. It is obvious that it bothers the old man to be completely alone but he is a determined fisherman and wont let his loneliness get in the way of catching a fish. The old man often deals with the obstacle of being lonely talking to himself, the animals, and other inanimate objects around him.

Another struggle that Santiago had to deal with was his hand. A fisherman’s hand is one of his primary tools. Without strong, sturdy and well working hands, it can be difficult to catch a fish. Santiago discovers at sea that his hand is not in the same physical condition that it had been when he was younger. Santiago’s hand cramps up in his determined attempt to catch a marlin. He develops rigor mortise in his hand and realizes that he has no knowledge or supplies with him to make it better. You can tell the old man is realizing the extent of his hand problem when he thinks to himself,” I wish I could show him what sort of man I am. But then he would see the cramped hand (64). Other fisherman would use the excuse of a crippled hand as to why they didn't catch a fish, but Santiago try's to work through the pain as much as he can.

Although Santiago struggled with excruciating pain in his hand and the mental toughness of being alone, I think the main battle of his was with the marlin. Santiago had both a mental and physical battle with catching a fish at sea. You can tell that the issue of catching a marlin is a struggle for the man when he thinks to himself, "You are killing me fish (92). Not only does Santiago want to catch a marlin for the money, fame, and food, but for the boy. Santiago has to prove to Manolin and his parents that he is a good fisherman and that is boat is not unlucky. Santiago has a lot to prove to Manolin, the other fisherman and Manolin’s parents, but even to himself. It’s easy to get down on yourself after failing for so many consecutive times. I think mentally it was hard for Santiago to be having such a hard time getting a fish. Also, Santiago was an old man and fishing against a fierce energetic marlin became exhausting and almost life threatening to him. Fishing can be a dangerous thing to do especially all alone, at an old age, and with no food. The marlin was pushing the old man to his physical limitations giving him a really tough time trying to catch him. The old man became somewhat injured in the process of catching this fish. Santiago’s determination and knowledge at sea helped him through this obstacle.

Hemmingway’s ability to create realistic obstacles for the character Santiago raised the tension level in the book and made it enjoyable to read. Although you are worried about the old man throughout the entire book and how he is going to handle himself, you are reassured every time he overcomes each obstacle. The old man faced the struggle of loneliness, the battle with the marlin, and his hand.

By Julia M.

Ernest Hemingway’s novella, The Old Man and the Sea, focuses on the many relationships that the old man creates. Hemmingway works to build up many strong relationships between the old man and Manolin, the old man and the marlin, and Santiago and his hands. I think all these friendships helped Santiago’s character development as well as it helped to influence the decisions Santiago made.

Santiago and the boy, Manolin have a very strong friendship. Santiago first taught the boy to fish when he was just five years old. “ ‘I remember everything from when we first went [fishing] together,’ ” Manolin said to Santiago (12). Manolin’s parents put him on a separate boat after Santiago caught nothing for 84 days, however, their friendship is still strong. When Santiago set out on his 85^th day, he found himself often speaking aloud to himself saying, “ ‘I wish the boy were here,’ (56).” Santiago depended on Manolin in more than one way. To the old man, Manolin was the son he never had. Manolin gave him a reason to live, and to keep fishing no matter how little he caught.

Santiago spends four days out on the sea trying to catch the marlin. During this time, Santiago builds a relationship with the fish. Without the boy’s company, Santiago begins speaking to the fish, “ ‘The fish is my friend too,’ he said aloud (75)’. Santiago refers to the fish as his brother. Being a fisherman, Santiago has had many opinions about the fish. After being alone with no one but the marlin, he begins to think of the fish as a companion. He thinks about killing him and the fish’s respect. When they are finally arriving at the harbor, Santiago wonders whether it looks as though the fish is bringing Santiago in, or Santiago is bringing the fish in.

Another relationship the old man possesses is between him and his hands. Since Santiago lacks the new technology that all the young and rich fisherman have, he has to rely on his hands. During Santiago’s struggle with the marlin, his left hand fails him when it cramps. This worried him because he needed both his hands to work when it came time to strap the marlin to the side of the boat and ward off any sharks that might pick up the scent. “ ‘Be patient hand,’ he said, ‘I do this for you,’ ” and he took another bite of the tuna he caught (59). Santiago knows that he will need his strength so he eats the fish and talks to his hand, willing it to uncramp. With no updated instruments, Santiago’s hands are very valuable to him. He tries to take good care of them and keep them healthy.

All these relationships contribute to the story plot. If Santiago weren’t as close with Manolin as he is, he wouldn’t have had so much motivation to make it home. His relationship with the marlin gave him the strength to catch the fish and fend off the sharks. Lastly, the connection Santiago has with his hands helps him everyday when he is out on the sea. His hands are incredibly skillful after years of fishing. Also, Santiago believes he was born to be a fisherman. He thinks his hands were made to catch the biggest fish in the sea.

The Journey Through the Salty Sea by Jess R.

The salty air wafts beneath his nose as a wave crashes against the hull of the boat, sending a foamy spray into the air. The clouds smear the horizon making it look heavenly as the sun peaked through the gaps between the fluffy, white pillows. This is the scene that Santiago, an old fisherman, saw as he was pulled through the calm ocean by an 18 foot long marlin. During his journey, this old man had faced many obstacles while fishing out at sea, including a dreadful hand cramp, exhaustion, and sharks.

First, Santiago attained a hand cramp that frustrated him, and drove him a little insane. The taut line that he was holding his prize catch on had burned away the flesh in a streak on the palm of his hand. Of course the cut had been exactly where he holds the line, and he needed that hand for when he attempted to catch the marlin. He had let the blood drift away in the ocean current, and then held the cord his fish was on again. This time, his hand stiffened when he held it, and began to cramp badly. Santiago had looked at his hand with disgust and hatred while saying to it, “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good” (58). After cutting up another fish that he had previously caught, the old man told himself that eating it would regain the strength in his hand so it would uncurl into a normal position. He then questioned it by asking,

“ ‘How do you feel hand?’ he asked the cramped hand that was almost as stiff as rigor mortis” (58-59). Because his left hand was cramped, Santiago was left to use his right one for awhile. He wished that the marlin wouldn’t jump, because he didn’t know if he could handle it the way he could with the left one. Santiago didn’t want to force it open unless he absolutely had to, and he thought of the cramp as humiliating himself, although no one was around but the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky.

Second, Santiago was out at sea for four days and three nights. He hadn’t had much sleep because he didn’t know when the fish would jump, or start to slow down. He had to keep careful attention to the marlin as if it were a child. Santiago was tired, and going insane. He knew he wouldn’t live forever, but he kept a good grip on his life. The little energy that he had when he left on his trip was slowly draining out of his body. He needed a lot of rest and possibly some medical attention. “[He] could hardly breathe now and he felt a strange taste in his mouth. It was coppery and sweet and he was afraid of it for a moment.” (119). The old man had had fish to eat, but didn’t drink all his water, for fear he would run out of it. Where do you find fresh water when you’re in the middle of the ocean? Because he didn’t drink too much, he was extremely dehydrated. The old man was becoming dizzy, and almost passed out at the moment he needed to spear the great marlin. “For an hour now [he] had been seeing black spots before his eyes and the sweat salted his eyes and salted the cut over his eye and on his forehead” (87). It’s a good thing that Santiago hadn’t passed out on the spot. He could have tipped his boat, drowned, or lost the fish. His destination, and life, could have ended in one single second, but the old man was strong enough to hold on to what he had left in his life, and pushed himself to his limits.

Lastly, after going through with catching and spearing his prize, Santiago must have wanted to just relax in his skiff, and wait to be drifted towards home, but he couldn’t. His fish was always at risk, especially with the sharks. Santiago had already speared and killed the fish, and the blood drifted behind them, leaving a delicious smelling scent for all the sharks within a hundred miles of them. I’m sure the old man could just see them licking their lips as they followed him in the crimson water. Santiago speared one of the sharks, but the spear had broken when he tried to pry it out of the shark’s head. He was disappointed that he had lost such a valuable item, but figured it was worth it if he could get the money for his trophy fish. To make up for this weapon, Santiago grabbed his harpoon, and used it to kill another shark, but to his dismay, it was lost in the ocean forever, just as his spear was. Getting irritated at he sharks for taking large bites from the valuable sea creature that he had caught, the old man began to use anything in his skiff that he could use to kill more of them. He used an oar to stab another monster of the sea, but it had broken as well, so he used what was left of it in his hands to kill another. With his oar stuck in a shark’s head, Santiago risked his life by going to a last resort: punching any sharks that threatened to eat the corpse of the marlin. “The shark let go and rolled away. That was the last shark of the pack that came. There was nothing more for them to eat” (118-119). The fish, and the sharks were gone, but the old man’s hope was still left within him as his dream had been fulfilled.

Santiago had run into many obstacles on his journey out to sea. It isn’t every day that you get dragged out to sea by the biggest fish in the ocean. The old man had suffered his fair amount in his life, and then the opportunity to prove himself to his town and himself came, but was ripped away from him in the end after he had tried so hard in his life. He had caught his dream on a line that he had swung over the side of his skiff. Although the meat of the fish was gone, courtesy of the greedy sharks, the bones remained to remind Santiago that he had accomplished what he intended to do. Santiago had survived a horrific hand cramp, exhaustion, and wicked sharks. He endeared what most people would give up on, and was pushed to his limits to accomplish his goals. Santiago never once gave up, even if the times were tough, and he should be praised for that.

Obstacles by Emma H.

In life many people struggle with obstacles and hit roadblocks that need to be conquered before moving on. Throughout the story Old Man and the Sea, the main character Santiago has to struggle with many obstacles, before reaching his main goal of catching his dream Marlin. There were three obstacles that stood out the most with getting in Santiago’s way of catching the Marlin. There was his ongoing loneliness, being unprepared, and his hand.

Santiago, had fished with the boy Manolin for many years but when Santiago had bad luck, and failed to catch anything for 84 days, the boy’s parents made him leave Santiago’s skiff. Santiago got in his skiff all by himself on the 85th day feeling confident he would catch something. However being as old as he was, he realized that fishing without the boy was harder than he thought, and Santiago starts to struggle with loneliness. “He did not remember when he had first started to talk aloud when he was by himself…He had probably started to talk aloud, when alone, when the boy had left”(39). To avoid going crazy, and to help deal with being so lonely, Santiago starts to talk to the fish, and the bird, and then eventually he talks with the Marlin.

When Santiago set sail in his skiff on the 85th day, he was not expecting to be away for four days, causing him to be much unprepared. Santiago lacked food, enough bait, and correct fishing tools. He only brought enough supplies for one day. “The boy was back now with the sardines and the two baits wrapped in newspaper and they went down the trail to the skiff, feeling the pebbled sand under their feet, and lifted the skiff and slid her into the water”(27). Because the old man didn’t have the supplies he needed, he found ways to solve his problems. He used the two baits he had, and used them to catch some fish for him to eat and fish to be bait.

One of the biggest problems that Santiago struggled with was his hand. After clenching on to the fishing line for so long, he began to get rigor mortis in his hand. This made him frustrated, because it made it harder for him to grip his line. “What kind of a hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good”(58). Santiago knew what he had to do about his hand; he kept making himself eat more fish to help. “Be patient, hand,” he said. I do this for you”(59). Santiago didn’t want to eat the fish, but he knew that it would help, and he ate it anyways.

Santiago was a brave man who never gave up. Not once did he let himself be defeated, he solved each struggle with the goal of catching and killing the marlin. He had to deal with loneliness, lack of supplies, and a cramping hand. This shows how strong Santiago was, both physically and mentally.

By Emma M.

Whenever you read a story, there is always a theme. It helps to make the story more interesting and it helps the story flow. In The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, there are many themes. I think that Hemingway having the character, Santiago, continue to struggle to catch a fish applies to the theme “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Having faith in yourself is an important part of being willing to try again. Manolin, one of the boys in Santiago’s village, once said to him, “ ‘He hasn’t much faith.” ’ Santiago then replies, ‘ “No, but we have. Haven’t we?” (11). Santiago has faith in himself and that is all that matters to him. He could have gone home and sulked about how unlucky he had been for eighty-four days, but he didn’t. Instead, he went out and tried again. Because he kept trying, he eventually achieved his goal of catching the marlin.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again has been said to me by many people in my life. Every time I faced something I didn’t think I could handle, I kept thinking to myself that I could do it and I just needed to try again. For example, during soccer season a few years ago, I had trouble learning all about a new position-goalie. I had never even attempted it and I never thought I could do it, but, I tried. Every time a ball went past me, I’d ask for help from my coaches to improve myself. There were a few bumps in the road, but I overcame them because I kept trying despite the odds. I can connect to this quote from Santiago: ‘ “You’re feeling it now fish, and so, God knows, am I.” ’(56). When I read this quote, I connected with it because it showed how hard Santiago was trying. He was facing so many obstacles, but pushed through them.

Santiago knew that he needed to keep trying. After going eighty-four days without catching a single fish, he finally caught the marlin. He had achieved his goal, but ended up facing an unexpected obstacle-the sharks. He was unable to bring the massive fish home and doesn’t feel too great about himself. On page 124 after Santiago returns home, he says to Manolin: ‘ “They beat me, Manolin. They truly beat me.” ’ Manolin then replied ‘ “He didn’t beat you. Not the fish.” ’When Manolin says that the fish didn’t beat Santiago, I agree with him. The fish hadn’t beaten Santiago, Santiago had beaten the odds. He tried against all of them and won.

Many people have gone through hardships. If they hadn’t tried again, they might never have overcome their obstacles and become better people. In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago overcame all of his hardships because he kept trying despite all of the odds. If he hadn’t, he might never have caught the fish or been praised by Manolin. Thanks to the theme “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”; Hemingway’s novella was a very interesting book.