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Hope And Redemption In Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea

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“But man is not made for defeat… a man can be destroyed but not defeated” (Hemingway 93). In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway uses Santiago as a Christ-like figure to develop the theme of hope and redemption through perseverance, suffering, and redemption.
Santiago shows the theme of hope through perseverance like Christ when he continues to go fishing even though he has not caught anything for 87 days. Santiago stays hopeful and positive through times when he has no luck catching fish. He tells himself, “But, he thought, I keep them with precision. Only I have no luck any more. But who knows? Maybe today. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready” (32). Santiago never gives up on his fish, just like Christ never gives up on his followers. Santiago keeps a great attitude, relating to the theme of hopefulness. Next, Santiago knows that he may not be the strongest and most popular fisherman, but that does not keep him from persevering. He reasures himself when saying, "I may not be as strong as I think," the old man said. "But I know many tricks and I have resolution" (23). Santiago is not the most popular and successful person, just like Christ was not. He perseveres through hard times, relating to the theme of hope. Lastly, Manolin questions Santiago of his ability to catch fish. Manolin asks Santiago, "But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?" "I think so. And there are many tricks"

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