Who Is Santiago A Hero

Ernest Hemingway writes his characters and their goals in a way that are very applicable to real life. In the Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is portrayed as an elderly man who believes he has lost a very important quality, his honor. Throughout the book the old man is in a battle that is able to bring back the honor and respect that he once had so long ago. Returning home with only the remnants of his trophy however, Santiago is devastated thinking that he has failed and has not amounted to much. Unexpectedly, Hemingway uses the defeat of Santiago and other events on his voyage to reveal a bigger picture. The old man’s journey illustrates that true honor is ultimately the result of one’s dedication and perseverance and not just if one fails or succeeds in the battles of life.

Manolin or “The Boy” respects Santiago more than anyone who knows him. Regardless of the fact that Santiago has gone 84 days without a fish, Manolin views him as his hero. The old man showed Manolin how to fish and showed him how hard he works to catch a single fish. The boy honors the man so much for his passion for fishing even believing the “best fisherman is [Santiago]” (23). After seeing how hard the man worked trying to catch the Marlin also moves the boy as he cries once he sees Santiago’s hands. Santiago’s fellow fishermen also have a newfound sense of respect for the old man. Once they see the size of the skeleton they are in shock as they admit that “There has never been such a fish…” (123). The fishermen, knowing the amount of work it takes to catch a fish half of that size, are even more amazed at the fact Santiago is able to hook and kill the beast. Although Santiago did not bring the marlin back the way he hoped, his hard work and desire were able to earn him respect from those he cared