Joe DiMaggio plays a significant role in The Old Man and the Sea. The baseball superstar is somewhat of a hero to the old man. Santiago references the “great DiMaggio” (Hemmingway 21) a great deal of time throughout the novella. In the beginning, the old man talks with Manolin about baseball, reminiscing on the Yankees and how they are doing (Hemmingway 21). Santiago demonstrates a profound admiration for Joe DiMaggio, and makes it clear by giving high regard to the baseball legend.
DiMaggio also represents strength for the old man. When he is out at sea and bears the pain and suffering of the fishing line on his shoulders, Santiago says, “Do you believe the great DiMaggio would stay with a fish as long as I will stay with this one,” (Hemmingway 68)? Regardless of the fact that DiMaggio is not actually on the fishing boat with the old man, he speaks as if his idol is right there with him. In a way, I feel bad for the old man because he is out there at sea alone, probably longing to fish with the baseball lengend. Despite DiMaggio’s presence only being there in spirit, the old man keeps his head up and does not let the fishing line get the best of him.
Manolin looks up to the old man as a hero, someone who teaches him great things and motivates him to be the best fishermen he can be. For me, I think it is interesting to see Santiago admire DiMaggio as his “hero” because in most stories, the hero of the book does not usually have a hero of their own mentioned. For the old man, an outstanding individual himself, to possess his own idol, it allows readers to see that Santiago is only human and has the same attributes that any normal person would acquire. This in return lets readers realize that you do not always need superhuman strengths and powers to be considered a hero. DiMaggio may represent a heroic figure to the old man, but he also symbolizes the old man’s human qualities.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.
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