Show Santiago’s dynamism in fighting with the shark.
The Old Man and the Sea is a notable literary work by Ernest Hemingway. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Old Man and the Sea.
Answer
Show Santiago’s dynamism in fighting with the shark. [2015]
Santiago is a man of great courage and strength in “The Old Man and the Sea” (1952). His fight with the sharks shows his dynamism and unbroken will. Though old and weak, he resists the sea’s cruelty with heroic energy. His body is tired, but his spirit is alive.
Courage in Danger: When the first shark attacks the marlin, Santiago faces it boldly. It is a fierce Mako shark with sharp teeth “like a man’s fingers.” He strikes it hard with his harpoon and kills it. He loses forty pounds of meat and his harpoon, but he does not lose courage. He says calmly,
“A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
This shows his brave and dynamic nature.
Unyielding Endurance: After the first shark, more sharks come. Santiago fights them with whatever he has at hand. He ties his knife to an oar and kills two shovel-nosed sharks. His hands bleed and his shoulders ache, yet he keeps fighting. He says,
“I’ll fight them until I die.”
His energy and willpower make him a symbol of man’s heroic endurance against fate.
Spirit over Strength: Santiago’s weapons are gone, but not his spirit. He fights the last sharks with his club and then with the broken tiller. Even when he knows the marlin is lost, he continues to fight. His dynamism lies not in success but in his refusal to surrender. His battle becomes a moral victory of courage over defeat.
In termination, Santiago’s dynamism lies in his courage, endurance, and willpower. He loses the marlin but wins greatness. His brave fight against the sharks makes him a timeless hero of the human spirit.