Sunday, March 23, 2008

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 85th 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.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This essay’s thesis is about the obstacles that the old man must face. The thesis is clearly stated in the introduction paragraph, and it grasps the reader.

“I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this,” he said.”” (Pg 87) This is the best quote in the story. It has a few grammar mistakes, but it was integrated correctly by describing it before and after it was stated.

This essay has a very strong conclusive paragraph. I wrapped up the story, but briefly continued to hold the reader’s attention. This essay also contained a lot of examples, which made it easy to read and understand, even if you never read the story. “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.”

Next time you are asked to write an analytical essay, you should take into consideration your word choice, and proper grammar. I thought the essay was very good, but there is much room for improvement.

Anonymous said...

Melissa,
Ths is a very well written essay. Your essay's thesis statement is very clear. It catches the readers attenton.“I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this,” he said.”” (Pg 87) This is the best paragraph quote because it fits your thesis and in your paragraph, you back up the quote. I wouldn't change anything about your essay. Each paragraph is very strong and well written. Great job!

Anonymous said...

Melissa
I really enjoyed reading your essay. Your thesis statement was very strong and it really started off your essay very well. I think that one of the best parts about your essay was your quotes and examples. The examples were very detailed. And the quotes that you put in the essays were clearl there and they really showed why you had them there in the first place. I think that you did a great job on your essay!

Anonymous said...

hey melissa do that thing you do.