Old Man and the Sea: Hero of the Novel

The hero in the novel Old Man and the Sea is obviously the old man.  He shows many heroic like traits when struggling to catch this fish.  He shows perseverance, hope, and grace.  These traits are heroic because if a person possesses these certain qualities, that person is great.  The old man shows perseverance when he kept on battling the marlin and decided to never give up until one killed the other.  He also showed hope because he knew he could get this fish and that it would change his life around.  He hoped to catch a fish, and he did.  Finally, he showed grace.  It is important for a person to have grace, especially if the person is thought of as heroic because it shows that the old man is not ungrateful for his gifts.  It also shows he does not boast for his talents.  He showed grace when he declared his respect for his opponent, the marlin.

The old man accomplished a lot during this novel.  He accomplished much more than just catching a fish in my opinion.  He gained respect for living creatures.  He gained this when battling the fish.  He knew that this was not an ordinary fish, and he learned to respect it.  He also gained knowledge.  He now understands things much more.  He understands that you can seemingly lose everything and people will still respect you.  Also, he caught the best catch of his life.  He got a lot from this marlin although he did not get to shore with it.  He knows now what he is capable of.

The old man is portrayed as a man passed his prime.  He is still very strong and respected, but he is losing a battle to the sea until he catches his prize.  At first, the reader feels sorry for the old man, but once his qualities come out, the reader starts to respect him.  He might be representing the idea of endurance.  Although he is old and frail, he keeps up with the others, and even surpasses them with his prized catch.  He also symbolizes courage.  He knows he might be facing his last days fighting with this fish, but it does not scare him.  In fact, it makes him want to catch the fish even more.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.