The Old Man And The Sea

The Old Man and the Sea

In the novel, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago the fisherman can be viewed as either a failure or a success. In the aspects of Rishi, Devata, and Chhandas we can see that Santiago is not a failure. He has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish, and he is the laughingstock of his small village. Regardless of his past, the old man determines to change his luck and sail out farther than he or the other fishermen ever have sailed out before.

When we look at the Rishi aspect, it is very clear that he is not a failure. He has the strength, intellect and the determination. Of the three his intellect plays the strongest role in catching the fish. It was his intellect that told him where to apply his strength, and when to use his commitment. Santiago used his intellect to think things through before doing the action. He also uses is old memories as a boost of energy and determination to get through his battle with the great marlin.

Santiago has the Devata value of a great fisherman, he had the literal skill to catch the fish, but also the knowledge necessary to catch the great marlin. Another thing on his side, is his pride. Although he is very old, he still has strength. He is so commited to catching a big fish to prove his worth to society, but by doing so, in his mind he has ruined both the great marlin and himself. He also knows the sea, and its ways, very well. The way Hemingway portrays the sea in this book, it is almost like a lens that we see Santiago through. Santiago has been on the sea forever, it has soaked him full of knowledge and experience, and he almost feels ones with the sea. Santiago sees it as a higher being, something that he has learned from since he was young. As an example, when he is holding onto the line of the fish that is pulling him so far out into the sea, he merely turns back to see the lights of Havana and knows where he must be, and where he

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