Fisher of Men
Santiago, the protagonist in Hemingway's famed The Old Man and the Sea, is often symbolized as a Christ figure in literary analyses of this novella. Santiago is a poor fisherman; Jesus was a fisher of men. Both stuck to their faith when they had moments of doubt and pain. Furthermore, Santiago often made references to Jesus' passages on sin. Clearly, Santiago is meant to symbolize many of Christ's teachings.
If Thy Hand Offends Thee
One clear comparison between Santiago and Christ refers to cutting off useless hands. On the second day, Santiago's left hand cramps so badly that he is unable to use it. He manages to maintain his fishing line with his other hand, but his frustration leads him to voice a sentiment about sin that Christ said during his Sermon on the Mount. Santiago states:
'If he cramps again let the line cut him off.'
When Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount, he warned against the penalty of sin. One of the most infamous lines from his sermon was about cutting off a hand that commits sin. Jesus states in Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 30:
'And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.'
Santiago's frustration with his hand is because it is of no use to him, and if it's not going to be useful, it doesn't matter if the line cuts it off. It would be out of his way and he could put it out of his mind. This sentiment evokes the theme of Jesus' statement. If the hand is sinful, then it is of no use to a man who is trying to serve God. Therefore, it is better to get rid of the hand before it infects the rest of the body.
Santiago, the protagonist in Hemingway's famed The Old Man and the Sea, is often symbolized as a Christ figure in literary analyses of this novella. Santiago is a poor fisherman; Jesus was a fisher of men. Both stuck to their faith when they had moments of doubt and pain. Furthermore, Santiago often made references to Jesus' passages on sin. Clearly, Santiago is meant to symbolize many of Christ's teachings.
If Thy Hand Offends Thee
One clear comparison between Santiago and Christ refers to cutting off useless hands. On the second day, Santiago's left hand cramps so badly that he is unable to use it. He manages to maintain his fishing line with his other hand, but his frustration leads him to voice a sentiment about sin that Christ said during his Sermon on the Mount. Santiago states:
'If he cramps again let the line cut him off.'
When Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount, he warned against the penalty of sin. One of the most infamous lines from his sermon was about cutting off a hand that commits sin. Jesus states in Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 30:
'And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.'
Santiago's frustration with his hand is because it is of no use to him, and if it's not going to be useful, it doesn't matter if the line cuts it off. It would be out of his way and he could put it out of his mind. This sentiment evokes the theme of Jesus' statement. If the hand is sinful, then it is of no use to a man who is trying to serve God. Therefore, it is better to get rid of the hand before it infects the rest of the body.
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