Old Man and the Sea

I think that there are many reasons we still read the novel Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. The old man, who is the main character, is very charming. In my opinion as a reader, as long as there is at least one likable character, the story is fine. The old man displays many strong characteristics that make him an easy person to care about. First of all, the old man seems very kind. He is always worrying about the little boy, and it is obvious that he is very grateful that the boy takes care of him. Without the little boy there to make sure he eats properly, keep him company, and occasionally helping him on the boat, the old man would be in a lot worse condition than he is. The old man also has the biggest faith in his luck with fishing. Though the boy worries because the old man is not catching anything, thus not making money, he holds his head high and believes his luck will change soon. This personality trait is carried out all the way to when the old man is being pulled along by the gigantic marlin. He is so excited and thankful to have such a catch, he is not the least bit concerned about how far out in the ocean the fish has taken him. I think that many readers admire his positive attitude. The old man is also extremely patient, which pretty much goes hand in hand with his positive attitude. As the great fish he has been waiting for takes him further and further away from the safety of the shore, he is only grateful towards the fish and thinks of him as a brother. His respect for the fish is a charming quality. He is honest that he plans on killing it, but he tries to let the fish have as much pride as possible. I think that the personality of the old man is the main reason we still read the novel Old Man and the Sea.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995.