Title: The Old Man and the Sea
Author: Ernest Hemingway

by Jeremiah Gould

The Old Man and the Sea, Earnest Hemingway's Pulitzer Prize winner, really needs no introduction. Considered a staple in English classes throughout High Schools nationwide, this novella has been read by millions I'm sure. I recently revisited this classic, intent on finding whether or not it stood up to an older, though not too much wiser, reader.

The tale could not be more simple; One man, One fish, One sea. Hemmingway shows his mastery of the English language with short, simple language that is easily absorbed and planted in the readers mind. The simplicity of the language is also fitting with the main character, who is a simple fisherman who's seen better years. It is as if the narrator is telling the story casually over a drink at the fisherman's bar to a young, first time fisher. The language flows over the page, and lends itself well to the images Hemingway chooses in his tale.

The effect is so great that on more than one occasion I found myself dry in the throat and felt my hand throb slightly from imagined pressure. For the time you start out into the ocean with the old man to the time he returns half dead to his harbor, Hemingway brings to life the vastness, beauty, and dangers of the sea and it's wildlife. He connects the different sea creatures, the old man included, in a vast, thin, yet unmistakable net, bringing the reader to an understanding of the relationship between the sea, the wildlife, and the fisherman.

Another aspect of Hemingway's story that impressed me was the depth of the main character, who is mostly referred to as "the old man." His character connected with me on a level few character's I've experienced have. Hemingway's use of details and the dialogue the old man has with himself, alone out in the ocean, rounds the character out nicely. Hemingway chooses his dialogue carefully, and places the details almost lovingly throughout the narrative. The old man is believable, and his struggles translate across the cultural and class differences to resonate strongly with readers today. The themes of man's will to survive, his perseverance to achieve an almost impossible goal, and the noble contest of nature, can apply to almost any reader.

In all, this classic deserves it's praise as one of Hemingway's finest works. It is a model in the structure and power of simplicity in language, the depth of characters without extended use of dialogue, and above all, a very enjoyable read. If you haven't read this novella, pick it up today. If you have read it, it might be time to re-visit the small skiff, the old man, and the grand noble marlin in their journey through the waves and remember simple storytelling at it's best.