Ernest Hemingway Research Paper

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“Ambition is the first step to success. The second step is action” (Drew Wagner). “Success” is often the main indicator of the value of a man. Society’s view of success is that the more successful experiences you have endured, the better of a life you will live. But, success, in or of itself, merely speaks to a particular status and most likely has little to do with the journey the person took to get there. It also has little to do with whether or not he/she retained their dignity along the way. Thousands of nonfiction and fiction books are written around this wide spread concept. Ernest Hemingway is just one of these hundreds of authors. Among the many aspects of his novella, it is the idea of victory or redefining success that makes Hemingway’s…show more content…
According to the New American Standard Bible, "He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). So in the Christianity sense left is evil, devil related, bad luck or death. While trying to reel the marlin in from the sea and onto the boat, Santiago’s left hand seizes up and, “ his left hand has always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it” (Hemingway 71). When his left hand seizes it informs the reader that a bad situation is on its way. However, when it does clench up a second time, he separates, in his mind, his left hand from his own self, so that the hand is defeated, not him. Hemingway uses this device to help the reader understand that to reach success he/she must use their hardships to give them the strength to continue. The old man refuses to accept debacle and, “the thousand times he proved it meant nothing. Now he was proving it again. Each time was a new time and he never thought about the past when doing it” (Hemingway 66). Santiago continues to fight the fish with integrity, pride, and determination as he resents defeat. Because, it does not matter how many times one has failed and in what way, but it matters that they pick themselves back up and keep…show more content…
Throughout the novella, Santiago has a steady dream about lions on the beach in Africa. This reoccurring dream about the creature is a parallel to Proverbs 28:1 of the New American Standard Bible, “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” The lion is said to gain the prize for most relentless fighter in the face of life trials. Hemingway uses this allusion to convey the perpetual feeling of youth and determination. Santiago, “dreams of places now and of lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dusk” (Hemingway 25). When he dreams about the animal, it is often after he has survived a great battle or has endured peril. When he awakes, he has a stronger sense of courage and determination. Hemingway uses this correlation to explain that although Santiago is old and out of his prime, he still lives in his youth. Santiago keeps the mindset that he, “must have confidence and must be worthy” (Hemingway 68). At the end of the book, when he returns from his journey, Santiago is found asleep and is, “dreaming about the lions” (Hemingway 127). The use of this device is foreshadowing Santiago's return to sea, because although his catch was destroyed and he did not reappear with what he set out for, he will not abandon his goals and he will attempt yet

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