Hemingway's "The Old Man and The Sea" .

Essay by sweetld215High School, 11th gradeA+, November 2003

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In Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea" there is a common relationship between Santiago and the fish that dealt with respect but the desire to conquer. Within this relationship Hemingway describes Santiago's feelings and attitudes toward the fish and how these feelings change. At first, Santiago was glad he hooked the fish, then he felt sorry for the fish, and finally he felt guilty for going out so far. He describes Santiago's views by using many different stylistic elements such as diction and tone.

The first stylistic element that Hemingway uses to show Santiago's emotions for the fish is diction. Hemingway accomplishes this through the use of opposite words. "Aren't they lovely? Eat them good now and then there is the tuna. Hard and cold and lovely." (pg 42) In this quote Hemingway uses contrasting words such as lovely and cold to express Santiago's admiration and desire for the fish.

As Santiago persuades the fish the words vary. The word lovely is best associated with beauty and goodness while cold can be best related to darkness and death. Although Hemingway may confuse his audience this use of two contrasting words help to describe Santiago's mixed emotions for the fish.

Tone is the second stylistic element that Hemingway uses in the passage on pages 41-50. Tone, overall, is the most important element due to the fact that it effects how the reader perceives the passage. "Come up easy and let me put the harpoon in you. All right. Are you ready? Have you been long enough at table?" (pg 44) The words used in the previous quote clearly display Hemingway's fluctuating tone. As Santiago's anxiety increases for the fish so do the words that Hemingway chooses. After Santiago kills the fish Hemingway brings the tone...