The symbolism Hemingway uses in the days and numbers of the book are very important. Hemingway did not pick certain numbers because they sound good. He chose them because they are symbolic to the Christian religion. In the beginning of the story, Santiago had been with Manolin, his young follower, on a boat for forty days. This is symbolically religious because Jesus was banished to the wilderness for forty days (http://www.thespark). Manolin’s parents would not let him fish with Santiago anymore because of Santiago’s bad luck. In this sense, Santiago could be seen as an outcast, just as Jesus was.

Santiago had gone eighty-seven days without catching a fish prior to his eighty-four unlucky days. Eighty-seven could be symbolic to the “sum of Jesus’ forty days in the desert, the forty days of Lent, and the seve

Santiago’s suffering is closely related to the pains Jesus went through during his crucifixion. “‘Ay,’ he said aloud. There is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just a noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood” (Hemingway 107). This is symbolic of Jesus getting his hands nailed to the cross.

Santiago “always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her” (Hemingway 29) The organisms of the sea express all Santiago knows about life. He is fascinated by the “playfulness of the dolphin” and the high stamina of the marlin. Santiago can believe in the sea as a God because he can endure what pain it brings (Jobes 57).

Santiago’s trial with the fish begins in “simple physical pain.” When the fish is caught, the physical pain doesn’t seem agonizing and Santiago’s battle becomes more of a heroic action (Wells 58). Santiago goes through much pain and defeat to achieve a victory of self gain and a new purity. As Jesus, Santiago also endures a great suffering that rejuvenates his soul.

The marlin, as well as other creatures, are considered to be “brothers” to Santiago (Scafella 199). Santiago values the big fish because of its “beauty, nobility, courage, calmness and endurance” (Jobes 60). In a way, Santiago wishes to pursue these qualities in himself. “He must symbolically, slay the lord of life in order to ac

Some topics in this essay:
Poor Santiago, Jesus Santiago, Santiago Scafella, Jesus Williams, Jesus Hemingway’s, Santiago Manolin, Week” Williams, Christ Jobes, Ernest Hemingway, forty days, jesus santiago, jobes 57, jobes 60, jesus endured, williams 183, marlin santiago, days eighty-seven, trip sea, santiago goes,