What does he conclude? The struggle with the marlin has taken all his strength and the sharks have destroyed him but he remains undefeated. He always considers his choice before taking a decision this can be seen through this conversation of Santiago with himself, Here, I am between my flock and my treasure, the boy thought. 10 chapters | Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Suffering from dizziness, and badly injured, he perseveres, and brings in the largest fish he has ever seen. "He can't have goneChrist knows he can't have gone. In his youth, Santiago had worked on large, open sea sailing vessels. He doesn't want the Marlin to jump now because each jump widens the hook wound. Today, I understand something I didnt see before: every blessing ignored becomes a curse. Revelations and transformations are the most important part of the Heros Journey. He is a simple, uneducated man whose years of strength and youthful energy are well behind him. 3. Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.. He is very accepting of his simple living conditions and never complains. Santiago also does not spend much time in a community of people, traveling alone except for his sheep. During Santiago's first day at sea, how might Santiago and the marlin be parallel characters? What do you think is the moral of the story? Read aboutthe Little Prince, another character who journeys on a quest for fulfillment, in Antoine de Saint-Exuprys The Little Prince. You came so that you could learn about your dreams, said the old woman. The passage on pg. As the marlin begins to circle, Santiago makes yet another promise to God in exchange for the strength to help him endure. In Count of Monte Cristo, The Odyssey, and The Alchemist, the three heroes have many psychological, behavioral, and physical transformations. I think Santiago is a traditional character because his qualities help him overcome his conflict. '', During Santiago's struggle with the fish, his continual open dialogue and thoughts give the reader a more defined understanding of the nature of his character. military camp. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. . Why do you think he wishes this? Why do you suppose that the lions are the main thing that Santiago dreams about? The author might be foreshadowing that Santiago will catch a lot of fish after he hasn't caught any for a long time. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. The book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho that transpires before technology, about a shepherd named Santiago, who has a dream about a treasure in Egypt. The alchemist then shows, The alchemist gives a quarter of the gold to, earth plays an important role, even if he doesn't know it. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you would find nothing on your return. The man was speaking the language of alchemy. Character strengths are the positive qualities individuals haveas reflected in their thoughts, feelings, and actionsthat promote the well-being of themselves and others. A plot includes an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and a resolution. We learn that he doesn't have a big home. He is very aware of that and chastises himself for it. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The marlin becomes weak after he has been pulling Santiago on for so long. This character trait factor has been called culture, openness to experience, intellect, and imagination. Santiago says that the boy shouldn't go with him because he is not lucky. He says that there is only a minor part harmed that can easily be replaced. The Most Interesting Man in the World has little on Santiago, the protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's novella The Old Man and the Sea. The marlin can't be blamed either because it didn't really do anything wrong. Santiago grips onto the line very intensely, which causes his hand to bleed (56). One character trait of Santiago's that could be both positive and negative is his sense of contentment. Hemingway's use of Santiago as a Christ figure is justified at the end because Santiago used to be disrespected, but now people recognize their mistakes and feel bad for treating him unkindly. Santiago takes the advice and teachings of many people around him to heart, and he applies their lessons to his own life. His greatest spiritual advancement, however, comes after he meets the alchemist, who helps him to understand himself and to read the omens in his environment. 5. It never becomes a part of a community by being available as a shelter for animals or lichens. He is connected to the natural world around him and that allows him to escape defeat. He doesnt let the obstacles stop him toward his goal and eventually he finds his treasure. Di Maggio suffered from bone spurs in his feet but played on and triumphed in spite of the pain. How does Santiago's response indicate a change in his view of himself as a fisherman? The Englishman's books teach many strange ideas. After leaving Fatima he has a difficult time coping with the separation, even if Fatima is a woman of the desert, who knows he will return. | 1 The camel driver understood what the boy was saying. 5. What is the significance of Santiago's hand scars not being fresh? Explain the difference. there's no going back, and so they must move forward through danger. Do the math forSantiago. As being a shepherd does not promise him to be with the merchant daughter and for finding a treasure he need to give up his well settled life. In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, what is a Personal Legend? If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait. Already a member? Whereas some readers might think that Santiago's fear of failure when the alchemist promises the general that the boy can turn himself into the wind, might be a shortcoming, I disagree. They are both old and weak. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Santiago displays an immense terror of failure. list santiago's strengths and weaknesses as a character. Read again the description of the marlin as it leaps from the water. He goes from talking about airplanes to dolphins and then to the stripes on the Marlin. He knows that he will never have to prove himself to the fishing community again. How does a lesson the Alchemist taught Santiago save his life? What symbolism could be attached to the way in which Santiago was lying? The Alchemist is a famous book written by Paulo Coelho. In "The Alchemist", what is the Universal Language? I must get the heart." Santiago suffers terribly throughout The Old Man and the Sea. 6. He describes his eyes with positive and nice adjectives. There's a serious battle nearby, and wounded and dead soldiers are returned to the camp. Hemingway uses birds to parallel and symbolize different aspects of Santiago's experience. Santiago began to feel sick and couldn't see very well. He uses every kind of tactic to summon up and maintain his determination. What physical symptoms does Santiago experience while bringing the marlin in? "It was an hour before the first shark hit him." It didnt bring with it the smell of the desert, nor the threat of Moorish invasion. That he has not caught a fish for so long is not the fault of others or the weather or anything like that: he looks within himself for the cause. They are both fighting for something. These character traits involve your willingness to think differently from others, try new things, and be vulnerable. SparkNotes PLUS Why did the boy's parents say he couldn't fish with Santiago any longer? He hasnt caught a fish for eighty-four days but he is not in the slightest bit discouraged. Before finding his treasure, he must be courageous and clever to survive the desert and the danger that he encounters. Thats what helps me face these days that are all the same, these mute crystals on the shelves, and lunch and dinner at that same horrible caf. He didnt consider mending the holethe stones could fall through any time they wanted. becomes more apparent. 11. Also, people treat Santiago with respect after he brought home the Marlin, which is satisfying because he is getting the treatment he deserves. Thats the way it will be with our love for each otherMaktub, she said. In this instant he resolves to work for the crystal merchant to earn enough money to buy sheep and return to his old life. PDF downloads of all 1725 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. He concludes that is is good to be lucky, but it is even better to be exact. He also says that fighting with the sharks wasn't worth losing the fish. How is Santiago's response to the other fishermen Christ-like? Why does Manolin cry when he sees Santiago's hands? At this moment everything the boy has learned and wished for almost. This also shows that when he decides something he follows that and lives with it. Santiago has caught no fish, and has therefore made no money. If there were, then they would cause a swirl in the water when they went by the dolphin meat. "A rolling stone gathers no moss" is a saying that praises a spirit of restlessness; however, that same rolling stone never allows itself to become an abiotic factor within an ecosystem. Write down the descriptive words or phrases that are used to communicate the size of the fish. Santiago hesitates to pursue his dream until he meets Melchizedek, a mysterious old man who claims to be the king of Salem. During Santiago's second day at sea, the stream of consciousness technique How does he justify killing the shark? -Source of personal identity, emotional and material support. We are afraid of losing what we have, whether its our life or our possessions and property. He is in tune with the sea and the sky, watching the weather, the currents, birds, and fish to help him know the best spots for fishing. 2. Santiago knows that he does not have all of the answers, and he is humble enough to seek out the answers from other people. What philosophy of life does the alchemist seem to espouse. But the boy knew that he was referring to Fatima. Actually, it wasnt that those things, in themselves, revealed anything at all; it was just that people, looking at what was occurring around them, could find a means of penetration to the Soul of the World. Referring to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, is it possible to live a fulfilling life without ever achieving your Personal Legend? On the other hand, Santiago's restlessness could be a negative thing. Some of the older fishermen just feel sad when they look at him. Santiago injured his right hand when the fish suddenly jerks on the line. What do we learn about Santiago, the old man, and Manolin, the boy, in this paragraph? He has to fight against sharks and almost catches a big fish. There he was very lucky and caught 3 good fish in the first week. Probablemente, a lvaro no le la exposicin. The second and third paragraphs continue with a physical description of Santiago. . And I am a part of your dream, a part of your destiny, as you call it. However, this "flaw" in Santiago is understandable. How do the other fishermen treat Santiago? Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, Im going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves., I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. 2. A story's plot is the action of the story. Weakness + Strength = Growth A character's flaws against their accomplishments are a measure of greatness. Escoge el verbo apropiado y utiliza el futuro perfecto o el condicional perfecto para completar las oraciones. There was also the merchants daughter, she wasnt important as his flock, because she didnt depend on him. In the resolution of a story, all plot complications are finally sorted out, the conflict is solved, and the story is brought to a conclusion. (including. There is a saying about rolling stones not gathering moss, but it isn't definitive about whether or not that is a good thing or a bad thing. I find it to be a satisfying conclusion because Santiago made is home safe and is reunited with the boy. list santiago's strengths and weaknesses as a character. As he grew older he turned out a genius but did not want the knowledge he had. What general statement does Santiago seem to be making about the process of growing older. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs The wise man teaches him things unknown to most people. Because of the alchemist telling him this, he knows his Personal Legend and continues to work for it. Characters that remain the same are called static characters. He talks to himself, encouraging himself, as though there is an eternal figure pushing him. counselors. There are a number of times in The Old Man and the Sea where the author draws a parallel between Santiago and Jesus*. Is Santiago a dynamic or static character? Santiago is not some geriatric struggling to best other people his age in shuffleboard. When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spokethe language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. This is the reason that writers almost always give characters, including heroes, character flaws.It is human to be weak and characters without a . eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Purchasing Already a member? In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, being human, Santiago must have character flaws, but they are few and seem to relate to his youth and naivete. A young man on the cusp of life and the hero of the story, Santiago is too unformed as the novel opens to have too many flaws. Why doesn't he want the marlin to jump now? What does Santiago do about it? In my dream, there was a sycamore growing out of the ruins of the sacristy, and I was told that, if I dug at the roots of the sycamore, I would find a hidden treasure. 1. 5. Santiago lays with his hands palms up because his hands hurt and are bleeding. It describes peoples inability to choose their own destinies. Santiago probably gave up hope since the sharks are eating him. The third paragraph contrasts it by saying that his eyes were not old and that they were cheerful and undefeated. "What are Santiago's personal flaws in The Alchemist by Coelho; what holds the character back from reaching his goals? " Which do you think is the position in which Santiago was lying? He treats it with compassion and talks to it as if it were a human. Certainly, Santiago's determination is important to understand, but since he is the primary character in The Old Man and the Sea, it might be beneficial to the reader to have a physical description of the determined fisherman as well. This courage enables him to reach the treasure and fulfill his Personal Legend. for a customized plan. Does this leave you with a positive or negative impression? Imaginative. Even when he is dizzy and severely injured, Santiago continues to summon the strength to bring in the largest catch of his life. In terms of personal "flaws," he trusts too easily and he experiences self-doubt after he is robbed. After the sharks have destroyed his marlin, Santiago muses that its his exaggerated pride that has ruined both the marlin and himself. Dr. Chris Peterson, one of the founders of positive psychology, led a research team over a three-year period to better understand character and its manifestations.Alongside Dr. Martin Seligman, Dr. Peterson then wrote Character Strengths and Virtues.The research in this book explains: The 24 character strengths that are evident in the most widely influential traditions of thought in human history. Thats our Santiago character analysis. 10. soul of the universe. Explain. During the course of the novella Santiago is shown to be cheerful, determined, confident, brave, and optimistic. How does Santiago respond when Manolin announces that he will fish with Santiago again? Santiago believes he understands the moral of the story. Youre good forever. He thinks about his friendship with the boy; he recalls episodes in his youth, particularly some feats of strength, for example, a memorable hand wrestling match. . What contrast is drawn with the third paragraph? the marvels of the world, but to also never forget the oil in the spoon. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. How does Santiago respond to the sharks when his last weapon is gone? 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Why? Any questions? There is also unity between the boy and Santiago because they are close friends and care for each other. The old mans physical suffering has led him to a more significant spiritual triumph. Harpoon= shark brings it down with him Oar and knife= snapped by the shark Club- gets taken down. he is going to transform himself into the wind, just to demonstrate his powers. What lessons does Santiago learn by working at the crystal shop in The Alchemist? As a result, he resisted his parents desires that he become a priest and chose instead to work as a shepherd so that he would have the opportunity to travel throughout the country. No sound from the bazaars, no arguments among the merchants, no men climbing to the towers to chant. Above all, though, Santiago's humility illuminates the nobility of his character and fuels his determination. In that one paragraph, Santiago's thoughts move from baseball scores, to DiMaggio, to bone spurs, to fighting cocks, to endurance, and finally to wishing he was the marlin. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. This helps to sharpen the contrast between the two. Then, he is able to travel into the desert, facing more peril along the way. The heroic young man with such towering aspirations and optimism is crushed in a single moment when an enormous obstacle appears in his path. Santiago catches a small tuna on his first day at sea. Latest answer posted August 19, 2019 at 11:55:29 AM. Although the sharks take his fish, Santiago blames himself for its loss. In literature, a parallel character is someone (or something) that has many similarities to the main character and whose purpose is giving further insights into the main character's strengths and/or weaknesses. After he has killed the first shark that attacked the marlin, Santiago thinks about the situation he's in, and the situation he's going to face. He also has conflicts with society, which fits under the environment category. from Dordt University. Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006, b). He found love with a woman in the desert, a treasure chest buried under an old tree in an old abandoned church where he first was, and a lesson learned about how the world and the people surrounding him have affected him in his life. In this we see Santiago's complete loss of faith. That is easily replaced. Teachers and parents! At this moment everything the boy has learned and wished for almost ceases to exist. Do you think Santiago is a traditional hero, a tragic hero, or an antihero? He seeks out her wisdom, receives it well, and acts upon her teaching. A definitely positive trait of Santiago is that he is teachable. 6. The reader knows that all of Santiago's happiness is about to get taken away from him. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. He doesn't want to look at the marlin because he is disappointed that he was so lose to catching it but didn't. If the marlin jumps, his air sacks will be filled with air, which means that it can't swim deeper. Santiago also attributes human qualities to the marlin he has hooked. and weakness. Santiago wonders if it was a sin to kill the marlin. He intends to eat it for strength before the sun rises. He lives in a small shack on the coast, eats simply, and sleeps on a bed of newspapers. This could symbolize his comparison to Jesus because he is tired and laying in the position Jesus was in when he died on the cross. Main characters often change over the course of a novel. This job allows him to make money and the strength to carry on in his journey. First, the merchant tells Santiago that even if he worked for a year, he would still have to borrow money to travel to Egypt. If he abandons that pursuit, its because it wasnt true love the love that speaks the Language of the World.. Hemingway does not give specific measurements of the fish (except to say that it is two feet longer than Santiago's boat), but he lets the reader understand the immensity of the fish through the use of descriptive language. eNotes Editorial, 21 Sep. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-are-santiago-s-character-flaws-in-the-book-177563. "Take a good rest, small bird," he said. Santiago thinks that Joe might have been as poor as he is and will understand what it's like to be poor. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. 4. When the crystal merchant wakes up and comes into the shop. 7. June 2, 2022 . 71 that starts with, "It must be very strange in an airplane, he thought." direction. And after he has successfully brought in a marlin so big that his small boat can barely handle its size, Santiago spends the rest of the day and night fighting off sharks with whatever weapon he can manage. The delineation between strengths and weakness tend to be a judgement call that differs by worldview. When he got to where he treasure was a refugee man from tribal wars told him that he would live,and that exact same spot he had the same dream two years ago,but that he should have learned that a man wouldn 't be so stupid to cross an entire, The decision was difficult as both options dont provide him a steady choice. Two years ago, right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. :It would earn him at least 45,000 cents ($750). List four more ways we see a parallel drawn between Santiago and the marlin on this second day at sea. Without it, theres no lesson learned or progress made. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. What error does he tell himself (and the fish) that he made? Thats the worlds greatest lie., Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Santiago appears in, The fortune-teller says that she knows that, is silent for a while. Santiago still struggles to find meaning and purpose throughout his many years of travel though. The CliftonStrengths Assessment. Thus, showing the symbols and meanings behind these little puzzle pieces in the journey and being rewarded with love and treasure helping to support my thesis, through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the. Subscribe now. However, one of Santiago's positive traits is his willingness to open his mind to new ideas, and he soon learns that he has been mistaken. Free trial is available to new customers only. The description of Santiago's home also gives us information about his character. He also accepts that any failures he may have are not due to anyone or anything else. In Coelho's The Alchemist, at the very end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it? This indicates that Santiago isn't willing to give up, even if he is tired and doesn't want to fight anymore. Hunches, his mother used to call them. Since Santiago is poor, it would be very impactful if he got all that money because he would be able provide for himself and live an easier life. (one code per order). In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, there seem to be very few things that hold the character back from achieving his goals. Santiago tells the sun and wind about the love, something that was foreign to him before his journey. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert. Santiago wonders if the warbler is a young warbler who has never crossed the gulf before, and he understands that the warbler will "learn about the hawks soon enough." What do the final scenes tell us about Santiago's situation and his future? This wisdom is worth more to him than any amount of literal wealth. It is also his pride that helps him earn the deeper respect of the village fishermen. Santiago also has a flaw common to humankind of dreaming of quitting and returning to his simple life herding sheep. Latest answer posted August 19, 2019 at 11:55:29 AM. Everyone possesses all 24 character strengths in different degrees, so each person has a truly unique character strengths profile. Continue to start your free trial. . The two have a mutual interest in baseball and that is a major topic of conversation between them. A Different Breed. Santiago's potential character flaws are subjective. Standing up to the merchant's suggestion that he return to his sheep, we see how much the boy has grown. His shear devotion to the task at hand exemplify the novella's theme that a man can be destroyed but not defeated. He cuts off all of the other lines on his boat except for the Marlin's. The old man Santiago battles with the marlin. But if you have to go before then, go on in pursuit of your dream. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, whatismeant by the "language of the world?". He is a simple, uneducated man whose years of strength and youthful energy are well behind him. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. What promise does he make? I promised that I would make my own decisions, he said to himself. It is an intuitive way to make a character likable. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Youre not going to die. For example, consider the paragraph beginning "This is the second day now that I do not know the result of the juegos, he thought." 2. 98 lessons Santiago. In factand this is the second thing that happensSantiago loses faith in his dream, his Personal Legend. Finally, a marlin begins feeding on Santiago's bait. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Santiago hesitates to pursue his dream until he meets Melchizedek, a mysterious old man who claims to be the king of Salem. Given the outcome of the novel, do you think Hemingway's use of Santiago as a Christ figure is justified?