by Sheree Zielke

Created on: May 05, 2008

Describing Ernest Hemingway's story, THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA, as the "narrative of a destitute elderly human male's struggle with a marine creature, and his subsequent hardships as he fights his way across the vast ocean," would be a mockery. The verbosity would be an insult to both the author, and to his simple storytelling.

Hemingway captures his audience with the sureness of a shark attack, and the icy beauty of a mighty ocean wave. He does this with prose as pure and as awe-inspiring as the 18-foot marlin that his main character, Santiago, catches. Therefore, only a review written in honor of Hemingway's uncluttered writing style will do.

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA is a book (novella) about a Cuban fisherman and a fish. It is also a story about a man against nature. It is the story about grit and determination. It is a story about instinct and ingenuity. And it is a story about pride, respect, and noble spirits.

Santiago hasn't caught a fish in 84 days. That's a long time for a fisherman to go without a catch, especially a very old fisherman, who makes his living from the sea. So, he is not very happy. And he is feeling very unlucky.

Santiago is friends with a young boy, Manolin, who he took under his wing when the child was only five years old. Like a father, he has taught Manolin how to fish. Manolin loves being with the old fisherman. He loves fishing with Santiago, but his own father has forbidden him to continue fishing with the unlucky Santiago. So, Manolin goes to fish on another boat.

On the 85th day, Santiago decides to go fishing on his own, without Manolin. He is going to make up for his lack of success by catching a prize fish. He sails his skiff far out into the ocean where he lures and catches a giant blue marlin.

Santiago fights the fish with all his strength. During the fight between man and beast, Santiago befriends the marlin, calling it his brother. Sometimes he thinks he is losing the battle to his worthy foe, but then he finds some hidden strength, and he manages to harpoon and kill the marlin. Santiago lashes the huge fish to his boat in spite of his bleeding cramped hands.

Santiago questions his motives as he sails home. He asks and answers his own questions about pride, and sinfulness. "Do not think about sin. It is much too late for that and there are people who are paid to do it. Let them think about it." But his self-talk helps him contend with shark attacks.

First, a large Mako shark takes a 40-pound chunk from the marlin Santiago hopes

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