Scan barcode
A review by grrr8_catsby
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I first read The Old Man And The Sea approximately 20 years ago; shockingly, I remember nothing. Ernest Hemingway is well beloved as one of America's Greatest Authors, but is a novella long enough to justify Hemingway's placement on this list?
The Old Man And The Sea stands small at only 127 pages, but never feels short on content. While Hemingway uses his words sparingly, he also uses them effectively; passages of flowing descriptive text are substituted for mood and atmosphere. We are told just enough of the poverty and squalid living conditions of the titular Old Man (Santiago), but experience the sense of helplessness and both love and admiration for The Old Man through the conversations with the Boy (Manolin). Sure, we are told just how big the Fish is, but we experience pride and resistance to defeat through the tribulations of the Old Man in catching the Fish itself.
The Old Man And The Sea is a story about man overcoming nature, man overcoming age, and man persevering in the face of defeat. The Fish is the not the antagonist in this story; in fact, it is arguably one of the protagonists. The antagonist is Nature; the creeping hand of time, old age, the sea, and those that lurk beneath the surface. But success against nature is subjective, at best.
While we come to know and love The Old Man, characterization overall is a bit flat; we see characters are they are in this point of time, and not their growth or development. Fishing is a major element of this book, so be prepared to read about a lot of fishing. And although it is a minor complaint, The Old Man And The Sea is written as one long continuous text, without any breaks. While it can be finished in one sitting, the opportunity for a rest would be appreciated.
The Old Man And The Sea is a fine story as far as classic literature goes and is ultimately a safe read. Hints of Ernest Hemingway's genius peak out between the pages and, the best part about it - no test at the end of the book.
The Old Man And The Sea stands small at only 127 pages, but never feels short on content. While Hemingway uses his words sparingly, he also uses them effectively; passages of flowing descriptive text are substituted for mood and atmosphere. We are told just enough of the poverty and squalid living conditions of the titular Old Man (Santiago), but experience the sense of helplessness and both love and admiration for The Old Man through the conversations with the Boy (Manolin). Sure, we are told just how big the Fish is, but we experience pride and resistance to defeat through the tribulations of the Old Man in catching the Fish itself.
The Old Man And The Sea is a story about man overcoming nature, man overcoming age, and man persevering in the face of defeat. The Fish is the not the antagonist in this story; in fact, it is arguably one of the protagonists. The antagonist is Nature; the creeping hand of time, old age, the sea, and those that lurk beneath the surface. But success against nature is subjective, at best.
While we come to know and love The Old Man, characterization overall is a bit flat; we see characters are they are in this point of time, and not their growth or development. Fishing is a major element of this book, so be prepared to read about a lot of fishing. And although it is a minor complaint, The Old Man And The Sea is written as one long continuous text, without any breaks. While it can be finished in one sitting, the opportunity for a rest would be appreciated.
The Old Man And The Sea is a fine story as far as classic literature goes and is ultimately a safe read. Hints of Ernest Hemingway's genius peak out between the pages and, the best part about it - no test at the end of the book.