Essay on Santiago as Code Hero in The Old Man and the Sea

In Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago demonstrates the traits of the code hero. The Hemingway’s code hero covers the principal ideals of honor, courage, and endurance in a misfortune life. Throughout the novel, Santiago shows a contrast between opposite attitudes and values which associate his behavior with the guidelines of the code. In this case, the depiction of conflicting values, such as dignity despite humility, perseverance despite despair, and victory despite defeat are aspects that help to describe and understand the role of Santiago in the novel, and reflect the reason why this character is perfectly suited to the heroic conduct established by Hemingway. The first argument to be addressed is how the†¦show more content†¦The nobility of character of the old man prevents him from feel hate and rancor toward the other fishermen. Despite the taunts of the other fishermen, Santiago is quiet and admits having a bad streak of luck. This makes him an honorable man, which avoids any conflict and is able to recognize his flaws as a fisherman. Although the sea has given him several bitter drinks, he is able to keeping on loving it. â€Å"A man is honest when he acts honestly, he is humble when he acts humbly, he loves when he is loving or being loved.† (Waldmeir 165). Perhaps, the crowning act of humility in Santiago is when he is forced to recognize that by his own forces he will not be enough to grab the fish, and decides to carry out prayers to the Almighty. At the end of the hunting of the big animal, Santiago does not become conceited. His simple and humble soul thanks with a prayer for the outcome of his effort. Although t he fighting has been severe and bloody, the old man was not self-styled hero†. Santiago humbly considers himself as one fisherman more, and the categorization as a hero depends on the readers. â€Å"It is the knowledge that a simple man is capable of such decency, dignity, and even heroism, and that his struggle can be seen in heroic terms, that largely distinguishes this book.† (Young 131). The evident relation between his humility and dignity helps to place Santiago as a perfectShow MoreRelated Santiago as Code Hero in Hemingways The Old Man and The Sea1027 Words   |  5 PagesSantiago as Code Hero in Hemingways The Old Man and The Sea The Old Man and the Sea is a heroic tale of mans strength pitted against forces he cannot control. It is a story about an old Cuban fisherman and his three-day battle with a giant Marlin. Through the use of three prominent themes; friendship, bravery, and Christianity; the Old Man and the Sea strives to teach important life lessons to the reader while also epitomizing Santiago, the old fisherman, as a Hemingway code hero. 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