Moby Dick Old Man & Sea

In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, pits his strength against forces he cannot control. We learn from Santiago’s struggles how to face insurmountable odds with bravery and courage. Though we find an indifferent and hostile universe as Santiago’s stage, his unwillingness to give in to these forces demonstrate a reverence for life’s struggles. Santiago’s struggle is for dignity and meaning in the face of insurmountable odds. His warrior-like spirit fights off the sharks full-well knowing the fate of his marlin. Santiago loses his marlin in the end, but his struggle to keep it represent a victory because of the dignity and heroism with which he carries

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pts that there is no loss of manhood in sharing love and interdependence with others “He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride” (Hemingway 9-10). By accepting humility and love, Santiago understands he cannot conquer the forces of the universe but neither can they conquer him. In Melville’s Moby-Dick, we also see Captain Ahab fail in his conquest. Ahab is more proud and willful than even Santiago and for these traits he pays a harsh price. Despite Ahab’s fury at the whale, the sea will roll on as it has rolled for thousands of years. However, there is a distinct difference between the two characters. Santiago learns wisdom that brings him peace and makes his life have more meaning. Ahab’s knowledge is learned only via an increase in suffering. Ahab is physically and emotionally wrecked by the whale. Life is portrayed as a mystery which we know the answer to when we leave no more than when we enter it. Upon our death the world remains as mysterious and wicked as when we found it “Sink all coffins and hearses to one common pool! And since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still ch
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Approximate Word count = 1361
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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