Pop Culture in Old Man and the Sea

Christian Imagery and Metaphors in the Old Man and The Sea

Ernest Hemingway’s wife was a Christian Scientist, so her religious beliefs had a strong influence on him, and it reflects in his works. Some of the Christian imagery in the book include…

Santiago's Mast: Christian imagery is portrayed as Santiago climbs towards his shack. It was only then that “he knew the depth of his tiredness.” And when the old man stumbles home he falls, and finds the mast on his back too heavy to get up with. The imagery of Christ carrying his cross continues as Santiago “put the mast down and stood up. He picked the mast up and put it on his shoulder and started up the road. He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.” Even after his three days of brutal fishing the old man dutifully carries his mast on his back, Christ-like, before reaching his shack and falling into a deep sleep.

Santiago’s Hands: The scars on the old man's hands are mentioned in the first description

of Santiago. His hands “had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords. But none of these scars were fresh. They were as old as erosions in a fish-less desert.” Later, during his encounter with the fish, his fishing line cuts into his right hand when the fish lurches. Santiago comments on this. “You’re feeling it now, fish.... And so, God knows, am I.” When his hand cramps, he starts to worry about the possibility of sharks and his suffering is evident. This image of his bleeding hand, in conjunction with his suffering at sea, recalls the image of the hand of Jesus Christ bloodied by the nails used to crucify him. Oddly, it is only when the boy “saw the old man's hands” that he started to cry.

Santiago’s prayers: Hail Mary, Our Father. These are the prayers Santiago recites ‘should I catch this fish’ and he also promises to make a pilgrimage to the Virgin De Cobre if he catches the fish.

Virgin De Cobre/Scared Heart of Jesus: Pictures of both the Virgin De Cobre and the Scared Heart of Jesus are the only adornments in Santiago’s shack. The pictures were the relics of the late wife of Santiago.