Santiago Hemingway Hero

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In many of Hemingway's stories, the hero has certain characteristics. These heroes are often termed the 'Hemingway Hero.' For example, Santiago from Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is no exception. The characteristics of this Hemingway hero, Santiago, exhibits above others are courage, honour and endurance.

Courage is and exceedingly crucial characteristic of the Hemingway hero. Santiago displays his daring multiple times in the span of his story. Courage is being strong in the face of grief or pain. Through the course of the novel, Santiago faces both pain and grief. “How did I let the fish cut me with that one quick pull he made? I must be getting very stupid.” (56) Santiago gets cut on his hand early on in his battle with the Marlin. …show more content…
Everyday Santiago struggles with barriers. Notably, the man is immensely destitute; often not having food to eat though he persists through his poverty with honour. Every day he goes fishing, he drinks a cup of shark liver oil even though he does not enjoy the taste. “He also drank a cup of shark liver oil each day from the big drum in the shack where many of the fishermen kept their gear. It was there for all fishermen who wanted it. Most fishermen hated the taste. But it was no worse than getting up at the hours that they rose and it was very good against all colds and grippes and it was good for the eyes.” (37) Santiago, as a matter of fact, finds eating quite unpleasant. It is a daily obstacle for him. He does not bring lunch when he fishes and only eats due to the fact that it is necessary. “I must remember to eat the tuna before he spoils in order to keep strong. Remember, no matter how little you want to, that you must eat him in the morning. Remember, he said to himself.” (48) Like other challenges, Santiago endures his dislike of …show more content…
Fighting against the marlin caused Santiago an abundance of physical pain, yet he suffered this and did not relinquish. He did not even surrender the fight against the sharks until there was nothing left of the marlin to protect. Santiago even coped with the emotional pain of losing the marlin to the sharks. He loved the marlin as if the marlin was his brother and he was immensely upset when the sharks destroyed him. In spite of the emotional pain he felt, he kept progressing. He fought the sharks when they attacked and once Santiago finally arrived back on shore, he removed his boat's mast and his belongings from the boat just as he did every day. “He unstepped the mast and furled the sail and tied it. Then he shouldered the mast and started to climb. It was then he knew the depth of his tiredness.” (121) The Hemingway hero characteristic of strength and survival is one Santiago certainly
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