The conflict in this book is portrayed as man versus nature. The old man is set out to sea by himself without anybody to keep him company but with just the sea. Nature is everything that is around men and women. Just like this book, people have struggles with nature all the time. Farmers are a great example because if it rains a lot on their crops their crops could be ruined. The old man struggles with nature with all of the wildlife that was in the ocean while he was catching his fish. When he was heading home with the fish tied to the side of the boat, all of the sharks came up and ate his fish. Even though he was trying to keep them away, they would just keep coming back and start eating his fish because of the blood trail the fish was leaving behind. Another example in today's life is fishermen just like in this book, they set out to sea and they hope for good weather because if it is bad weather they are unable to go out and catch all of the fish. When Hemingway says, "He started to work his way back to the stern on his hands and knees, being careful not to jerk against the fish. He may be half asleep himself, he thought. But I do not want him to rest. He must pull until he dies" (Hemingway 78). This shows how much of a struggle it was for the old man because he was holding on to this fish with all of his might and on the other hand he was very tired from being awake for more than twenty four hours. Especially for an old man, staying up for seven hours is a struggle. The old man portrays a great deal of courage and bravery going on through the book. Throughout the book Hemingway shows us a great deal of strength and courage from the old man, which his struggles are all dealing with nature and the things around him.
Bibliography
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1996. Print.
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