The first obstacle the old man faces when he is out at sea would be his left hand cramping, due to him holding the line on his back. Santiago always thought that his left hand wasn’t good enough, and most of the time didn’t trust it, bringing him bad luck. Even though Santiago’s hand cramping might not be as of a big deal to us, it was huge for him. If he couldn’t keep fishing due to the hand cramping, he could lose the marlin that he has always dreamed of catching some day. He even tried talking to the fish, telling him to get better “What kind of hand is that,” he said. “Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good” (58). But it didn’t seem to work.
Santiago yet faces another problem when he is out at sea. It would be fighting the sharks that are about to eat the marlin. Santiago was very cautious during this time but it was also very devastating to him because he felt very companionate toward the marlin, and without it he feels detached. In the real world people are anxious with what then accomplish, and sometimes people’s dreams are crushed. If they make a project and it gets ruined, or if they build there dream house and it gets burnt down. Some people may chose to be irate, mourn and sulk over it for days, and some just move on, trying to pursue that dream again, and that is what Santiago does. His determination to keep the fish was strong “When he saw him coming he knew that this was a shark that had no fear at all and would do exactly what he wished” (101). But in the end it didn’t work.
Santiago’s last and final obstacle would be the marlin carrying the old man out to sea. During this time Santiago was very patient even though it took so long to catch the marlin. Some people go after there dreams, chasing them even if it took them days, months, or years. People always want to get into the best college, working there hardest in school, or wanting to get the best job or house. For Santiago it was chasing and trying to catch that marlin he has always wanted, even perhaps if it did take him three days and he was lonely and stranded out there. While the marlin pulled him out to sea, he often talked to the marlin letting him know that he would stay with him forever, and not let go. “Fish, he said softly aloud, I’ll stay with you until I am dead” (52).
Santiago’s problems in the story were much different from what the average person faces, but his reactions can be seen in every day challenges. His three problems of the cramping in the hand, being dragged to sea, and having the marlin eaten by the sharks were all symbolic of Santiago’s perseverance and to follow his dreams. In our daily lives we face problems that are much simpler and have to face the same reactions and outcomes that may happen due to them. You have to be confident and devoted to get through them. Ernest Hemingway does a tremendous job with showing Santiago’s determination and strong will to succeed through his actions, and it was a good way to take every day challenges and turn them into a more specific story.
