The Old Man and the Sea is a novella written by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1952. The story is about an aging fisherman named Santiago who embarks on an epic journey to catch a giant marlin, only to be faced with challenges and setbacks along the way.
As a novella, The Old Man and the Sea is shorter than a traditional novel, coming in at just over 27,000 words. Depending on the font size and page layout, this can equate to anywhere from around 80 to 120 pages in a physical book.
Despite its relatively short length, The Old Man and the Sea has had a lasting impact on literature and has been widely hailed as one of Hemingway's greatest works. The novella's themes of determination, perseverance, and the human spirit's ability to triumph over adversity have resonated with readers for decades.
In addition to its literary merit, The Old Man and the Sea has also been widely adapted for other mediums. It has been turned into a stage play, a film, and even an opera. Its enduring popularity and cultural significance make it an important work of literature that continues to be studied and admired by readers around the world.
The Old Man and the Sea pages 55
But a cramp, he thought of it as a calambre, humiliates oneself especially when one is alone" 62. I must cushion the pull of the line with my body and at all times be ready to give line with both hands. Santiago spends a great deal of time while sailing thinking about the relationship between himself and the marlin. He called it dorado. Looking out over the river, my son and I spot the sorry remains of a boat, just the bare metal frame without any "flesh", and we instinctively say at the same time: "Hemingway's old man! Perhaps I was only better armed. He could not see the green of the shore now but only the tops of the blue hills that showed white as though they were snow-capped and the clouds that looked like high snow mountains above them. The sun was two hours higher now and it did not hurt his eyes so much to look into the east.
How long is The Old Man and the Sea?
Like the case of Santiago and Manolin, this equalization demonstrates the novella's thematic concern with the unity of nature - including humanity - a unity which ultimately helps succor the heroic victim of great tragedy. This triumph of indefatigable spirit over exhaustible material resources is another important theme of the novel. Indeed, the entire first paragraph emphasizes Santiago's apparent lack of success. The shack was made of the tough budshields of the royal palm which are called guano and in it there was a bed, a table, one chair, and a place on the dirt floor to cook with charcoal. When Santiago finally catches a glimpse of the great marlin, he imagines he is in some sort of aristocratic feud, with each participant needing to demonstrate his prowess to the other before the fight.
The Old Man and the Sea (The Hemingway Library Edition) by Ernest Hemingway, Paperback
Santiago, almost delirious, draws the line inward, bringing the marlin towards the boat. But, he thought, I keep them with precision. Liked it but why would anyone judge you for not liking it? Thank God he is travelling and not going down. Now he was ready. Then came the same delicate pulling touch again.
The Old Man and the Sea How Many Pages
No dramatic event sparks him to excessive risk. He put one of his feet on the fish and slit him quickly from the vent up to the tip of his lower jaw. It will uncramp though, he thought. This is a perfect example of an author showing instead of telling, and what a beautiful masterpiece! You must do nothing stupid. What is a bone spur? One of his most famous works, it tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba. Are there any people left in this world like the old man? After three long days of wrestling with the big fish Santiago finally succeeded. They had eaten with no light on the table and the old man took off his trousers and went to bed in the dark.
