Ernest Hemingway's Tragic Vision of Man.
In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway, shows what has been called by many his "tragic vision of man." Hemmingway's view of life is that it is ultimately ironic. By accepting his world for what it is, and in finding out how to live in it, he has formed a tragic but glorifying vision of man.
Hemmingway explains that, "we are part of a universe offering no assurance beyond the grave, and we are to make what we can of life by a pragmatic ethic spun bravely out of man himself in full and steady cognizance that the end is darkness." In more simple terms, we are born, we learn how to live, and we die not knowing what is next. This is what is so ironic about life. We are born to die, and along the way many more ironic things happen.
In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is Hemingway's tool in proving his theory. The old man hooks an enormous marlin after eighty-four days of catching nothing. He uses every bit of his knowledge and strength to finally catch and kill the fish. After three days of battle he is able to pull the fish alongside the boat and tie him up. During the long voyage home, sharks follow the trail of blood from the marlin and eat the great fish. Santiago does all that he can to stop them, but it is no use. It is over.
This shows us the qualities which define man's place in a world full of violence and death not known to him. This story gives the experience of Santiago its significance as Hemmingway's concept of life. His tragic vision of man.
Hemingway says about the story. "It is enough to live on the sea and kill our bothers." In realization that he has gone out alone and too far, the old man has ruined himself and the great fish. The old man reflects Hemmingway's theory that in his individualism and pride, man goes beyond his limits in the world and inevitably brings violence and destruction upon himself and others.
