The Old Man and the Sea
Endurance Echoes: The Old Man's Ocean Odyssey
Intro : Entering the World of "The Old Man and the Sea"
The Old Man, and the Sea
Old Man's Meaning of the Sea
Process Over Outcome
Closing
Intro : Entering the World of "The Old Man and the Sea"
"The Old Man and the Sea." It's a title that's both simple and straightforward, yet it carries a certain charm. As expected, it's the story of an old man fishing in the sea. However, being the work of a world-renowned literary figure, a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, there's undoubtedly a reason behind its acclaim. With few characters and the sea as the sole backdrop, I found myself unexpectedly immersed in the struggle between the old man and the fish, becoming, unwittingly, the old man on the sea, locked in battle with the fish.
The Old Man, and the Sea
In a coastal village, there lived an old man. Despite being a fisherman, he hadn't caught any fish for days. He had a young assistant, but whenever the old man failed to catch fish, the boy's mother forbade him from joining the old man on his boat. Nevertheless, the boy admired the old man. Recently, for some reason, or perhaps due to bad luck, the old man hadn't been able to catch any fish, yet the boy knew he was still a great veteran fisherman. He also enjoyed their conversations about baseball while out at sea.
One day, as the old man set sail, he vowed not to return empty-handed this time but to catch a big fish. Though the boy couldn't accompany him, he cheered him on from afar.
The boat was soon floating in the middle of the sea. Determined, the old man checked his fishing lines and prepared his bait, sprinkling salt on the sardines he had prepared for bait. He resolved to catch a big one this time and return to the village proudly.
And then, finally, the fish took the bait. The old man, calm and collected like a veteran, carefully adjusted the fishing line as the fish bit onto the bait. When the time was right, the old man pulled the fishing line. But this fish was no ordinary catch. It was a tremendous beast, racing through the sea at incredible speed, dragging the old man's boat along with it. Thus began the epic struggle between the old man and the fish. More than half of the novel is dedicated to this process of finally catching the fish, with descriptions so vivid and lifelike that not a moment feels dull.
Especially memorable is the scene where, despite his cramped left hand, the old man refuses to give up and prepares for a long battle, eating sardines to build his strength.
However, the fish also refuses to give up, swimming at a rapid pace. It's fighting fiercely, just like the old man, struggling for survival. The old man feels a sense of sympathy and camaraderie towards the fish.
After an endless struggle day and night, the fish finally weakens, and the old man succeeds in cutting its throat and tying it alongside the boat. It's of enormous size, bigger than the boat the old man was on. Tying it up is overwhelming. As the old man smiles widely, celebrating his victory, I couldn't help but let out an exclamation. Finally, catching such a tremendous creature, he will return with pride. He must return proudly to the people in the village and the boy waiting for him. Even the boy's mother, who once ignored him, will surely be astonished. As I envision the old man having such thoughts, I realize that I, too, am filled with an unexpected surge of strength in my shoulders.
But reality doesn't unfold so easily. Sharks, attracted by the scent of blood from the fish, swarm in and start tearing into its flesh. The old man tries to fend off the sharks with a club and various objects, but it's futile. In the end, with only the skeleton left of the fish, the old man returns to the village.
Old Man's Meaning of the Sea
The old man is a fisherman who goes out to sea to battle with the sea and catch fish. However, as you read on, it becomes clear that the old man does not see the sea as something to conquer. In fact, there's a scene in the novel where the old man says, "That great sea, she is our friend." Even as he struggles with the fish, he feels sorrow knowing that he must catch them out of necessity rather than choice. He understands that both he and the fish are fiercely fighting for survival. His projection of himself onto the fish is striking.
Process Over Outcome
In the end, the old man failed. The fish, reduced to nothing but bones, was worthless. However, the people in the village acknowledge how remarkable the old man's catch was. The boy, too, though the fish may not be substantial, acknowledges the immense effort the old man put in.
The boy's mother, judging solely by the old man's failure to catch the fish, forbade the boy from accompanying him. Yet, despite the ultimate failure, the process was beautiful. Through this, the novel seems to suggest that while the outcome matters, the process should not be overlooked. It's through such arduous processes that results are achieved.
Closing
It may seem like a mundane subject. The backdrop of the novel consists solely of the old man on the boat and the sea. Yet, its allure was undeniable. Somehow, the intense struggle for survival between the old man and the fish became beautiful. Before I knew it, I found myself immersed, experiencing the intense battle with the sea. It's a novel that both entertains with its gripping descriptions and resonates deeply. It left a lasting impression.
