The Old Man and the Sea Review:
A Classic
I'll Appreciate
More With Age
Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea follows Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish. Determined to break his streak, he ventures farther into the sea than usual, where he encounters a marlin that becomes the greatest challenge of his fishing career.
Santiago
Santiago is an interesting character because so much of his identity is tied to his work. His relationship with fishing goes beyond simply making a living; it is a source of pride, purpose, and, perhaps most importantly, a way of understanding himself. Despite his age and the circumstances surrounding him, he refuses to give up on what he knows.
My Honest Review
I have a feeling The Old Man and the Sea is one of those books I’ll appreciate more as I get older. It reminds me of The Great Gatsby in that sense. I’ve reread Fitzgerald’s novel almost every year, and somehow it manages to feel different each time. I suspect Hemingway’s novella will have a similar effect on me.
I appreciated the message I took from the story, particularly its ideas about perseverance and the relationship between a person and their purpose. What makes the novella interesting is that its meaning isn’t necessarily tied to the outcome of Santiago’s journey. There is something to be said about the effort itself, and about what it means to continue doing something even when success isn’t guaranteed.
Hemingway’s writing style was another highlight. His prose is short, direct, and largely unembellished, which I found particularly fitting for this story. He doesn’t spend unnecessary time dressing up his sentences, and I enjoyed the simplicity of it. The writing leaves room for the reader to sit with the events rather than constantly explaining what they should mean.
That being said, it wasn’t my favorite Hemingway. At this point, I’ve read three of his works, and The Sun Also Rises remains my favorite. I found myself appreciating The Old Man and the Sea more for what it was trying to accomplish than for my personal enjoyment of the reading experience.
Overall, a worthwhile read and one I wouldn’t mind returning to in a few years. I have a feeling I’ll have more to say about it then.
Happy reading!