Santiago openly …show more content…
By referring to the ocean as a woman, Santiago is expressing his love for the sea. However, the admiration Santiago has for the water is so great that he thinks of her as more than just a character, but as a goddess.
Beegle describes Santiago and the sea’s relationship as, “a tragic love story of mortal man for a capricious goddess” (Beegle). As a result of his loneliness, Santiago uses the ocean as a way to feel loved and cared for. Their relationship turns into an unhealthy one as a result of Santiago caring for the only interaction he has so much that he thinks of the ocean as something more than it is. Santiago continually praises the sea in order to ensure that his interaction does not disappear.
Santiago spends most of his time out at sea despite being unlucky for several days. The Cuban claims he has, “… been unlucky for eighty-four days” (Hemmingway 9). A normal fisherman would give up after being unsuccessful for months. Yet, Santiago continues to go out and attempt to catch fish. Although catching a fish would be a great success for Santiago, his main reason for going back out into the water is by cause of his attraction to the …show more content…
He is extremely comfortable with the sea and is willing to spend extra hours in it so he can catch a fish.
Santiago quarrels with the sea. However, he keeps coming back to fish every day. Santiago admits, “Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her…” (Hemmingway 29). The elderly Cuban expresses his affection through bickering and name calling.
Santiago explains the cause of the ocean having unexpected events by declaring that, “The moon affects her as it does women” (Hemmingway 30). Despite saying rude remarks about his admirer, Santiago proceeds to go out to sea every morning.
Santiago also calls the ocean insulting names. For example, he sees man of war in the water and swears, “Aqua mala, you whore” (Hemmingway 35). According to Beegel, “Katherine T. Jobes believes the old man’s epithet-“You whore”- is familiar, affectionate, a reflection of Santiago’s “intimate at-homeness in nature”” (Beegle). Santiago’s actions are how he expresses love towards the ocean. By playfully calling the sea names, Santiago is forming a closer bond with her and feels like he is interacting with