Persistent Characters in the Old Man and the Sea Could Take On Zeus or AP Macroeconomics

Persistent, passionate characters make good stories. We love passionate characters that fight tooth and nail for what they want. Those characters that believe they would take on Thor to get their prize are the ones we return to again and again. Great Gatsby is a clear example of this; Jay Gatsby, as a character, has stood the test of time due to the tenacity and sheer force of will with which he creates for himself the life he wants, that too from completely humble beginnings. While those around him are born into luxury, he is the only one who has fought and struggled in order to enjoy the opulence and extravagance of his 1920s playboy lifestyle. The book truly rests on his shoulders and even today we read it and teach it for Gatsby, who represents the ideal American past. We read it for pleasure, add it as suggested reading for CAHSEE, and speak of it as the great American classic. Would we have done this if Gatsby had given up on his dream of Daisy and the world she represented? Doubtful. Let’s face it. Who wants to hear a story about a character that simply rolls over and gives up when the going gets tough? If a character doesn’t care enough about what he or she is pursuing, then why should we? We have to believe that their desires are going to take us on a worthwhile journey. And no worthwhile journey ends with an, “I’m too tired” or “I give up” attitude. Imagine investing in a character that wants nothing more than to catch that big fish. We stick with him and then… he gives up after getting a splinter or a hangnail. For the remainder of the story we are following him around as he goes about his daily business. There’s no more chasing the fish. There’s the humdrum rhythm of what we all know as daily life. Bo-ring. We don’t want our character to just curl up and die. They can certainly die. It’s the curling up part we have an issue with. If they do die, they had better die trying.

In Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is that character. This old man is willing to go to the ends of the earth to get what he wants and we are completely with him. We love his passion and we love his fight. Santiago, above all else, is determined. He is a fighter and he is driven by his determination. We don’t know if Santiago will win or lose, but we do know that he will never give up. When Santiago tells the fish, “I’ll stay with you until I am dead,” we believe him. His passion and determination are absolute and we have no reason to doubt it. Throughout the book Santiago does not disappoint.

It is also worth acknowledging the persistence and strength of Santiago’s worthy adversary, the fish. He is not going to back down easily either. The fish and Santiago are both fighters and, it is implied, both feeding off the others will and drive to succeed. We couldn’t ask for more in a hero and his opponent. With two fervent, dogged characters battling it out, Hemingway has us absolutely “hooked.” (Sorry.)

It is interesting that Santiago looks at Joe DiMaggio in much the same way as we see him. He admires the strength and endurance he sees in DiMaggio and especially respects the fact that his persistence paid off. DiMaggio’s legacy of becoming the best player ever after suffering from a bone spur is a clear source of inspiration for our hero. This is an aspect of Santiago’s character that helps us believe in his passion. His admiration for DiMaggio and the clarity in which we understand why he admires him only further commits us to believing in his determination.

What does Santiago’s persistence mean to those who read this classic tale? Does it inspire us to passion and perseverance? Does it serve as inspiration for tackling that AP Macroeconomics Course? Or do we simply get a rise out of vicariously living through them and imagining ourselves to be that resolute in the face of such challenges?