SYMBOLS USED IN OLD MAN AND THE SEA

ASSIGNMENT:EC-303 AMERICAN LITERATURE

TOPIC: SYMBOLS USED IN OLD MAN AND THE SEA

ROLL NO: 11

CLASS :M. A.

SEM : III

YEAR :2011-2012

NAME: PATEL KAVITA B.

SUBMITTED TO : DR. DILIP BARAD,

                               BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY,

                               BHAVNAGAR

SYMBOLS USED IN THE OLD MAN AND THE  SEA        

 What is symbol?

S

ymbols are one of those words that is often used in confusing manner. The confusion is increased by different scholars using the word to mean very different things.

ü A symbol is a sign which has further layers of meaning.Inthe other words, a symbols means more than it literary says.

ü Signs are literal,but symbols are not.We have to remember that a symbol can have more than one layer of further meaning.

ü Symbols can have three kinds of association,

        

          1. Personal

          2. Cultural

          3. Universal

1.Personal:  We all have associate with things in our experience.

Example:  One person may have strong affection for dogs while another person may fear them intensely.

2.Cultural: Different symbols have  quite different meanings  in different culture.

Example: A lion can represent as christ in Christian culture. In Sumerian culture the Sun represent the dog Marduk.In Chinese faithfulness.In Islamic Culture, they represent impurity.

3.Universal: Some symbols have universal meaning also like…

Example: Lions suggest deity in a variety of Cultures, for instance. Trying to discern and express the universal symbol is Tricky.

           A symbol can be defined as person, place or things, which are represents something more. In the Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway uses many symbols like Jesus Christ, Lion, Skiff, Mast, Marlin,  Manolin, etc. He compares Santiago with Jesus Christ. We can see that his tolerance power, his bleeding hands and way to carry the Mast, is just like Christ – A symbol of Christian culture.

            Santiago loves baseball and ocassionaly he plays gambles. He is trying to identify himself with the great Joe DiMaggio, who is at the central fielder for the Yankees in the 1940s and 1950s. And he was also a son of Fisherman,  just like Santiago .Though he has a bone spurns in his feet, he runs. Santiago does the same kind of work ,when he captures Marlin. Santiago seen more brodly as a representative of all human beings, who must struggle to survive. Santiago is a religious  and superstitious person also. However, Santiago says he does not understand the concept of the Sin, but he does thinks about the meaning of life. His religious referances shows that he is very familiar with Roman Catholic Saints and Prayers.

               Sea is also a symbol used in the novella. Sea becomes a symbol of larger and universe. In the beginning of the novella,Hemingway images the sea with “Blue Eyes”. Sea becomes a symbol of challenge. When Santiago is going for travelling in the sea,it is challenge for him. Sea also represents earthly  existence.Humans as stated in genesis, have been created by God to have dominion over all other living creatures, including the fish in the sea.  

                Lions are also becomes a symbol of young, proud. As we all know, lion is the king of jungle. Santiago is also represents as the king of fishing.Santiago is knowledgable person. Though Santiago is old person, he represents here as a young. Inspite of his great physical loss he still, “dreeming about the lion.

                Skiff represents circumstances of event his small boat faces the most difficult fight. Skif is witness of all events which happens with Santiago.                                                                                      

               Mast is a symbolused in the novella, as a Christian symbol, Cross. Marlin is a symbol for nobel foe sharks are symbol for cruek, vicissitudes.manolin is a symbol for love, loyalty and faith.