Preview

Hemingway's Hero Code: Analyzing, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, and The Old Man and the Sea

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
547 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hemingway's Hero Code: Analyzing, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, and The Old Man and the Sea
Hemingway Hero? Old Man and the Sea “… A very old man walking unsteadily but with dignity.” This excerpt is from Ernest Hemingway’s A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, but it could have easily been mistaken for, The Old Man and the Sea, also written by Hemingway. In both stories, the old man and Santiago, both become very unsteady at the end of the tale; but, they manage to maintain their dignity. For the old man, in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, the reason he is so unsteady is because he is drunk. He likes to go to the café at night and drink his night away, and somehow, he manages to leave with all of his self worth. In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago leaves the ocean in destruction, but also keeps his dignity; for, he believes he isn’t defeated. At the beginning of A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, the waiters mention that the old man had recently tried to kill himself. Santiago, the fisherman in The Old Man and the Sea, wouldn’t coward away from life like that. The waiters from the old man’s story said that he attempted to kill himself because he was in despair. Santiago had many reasons to be in despair, but not one time did he try to take his own life away. In both stories, both of the elderly men seem to be persistent. The old man in the café was told that he wasn’t going to be poured anymore alcohol. He insisted that the waiter should pour him some more. The first waiter did, but the next was more stubborn. Unfortunately, the second waiter won the battle, and the old man did not receive more brandy; but, he did not go down without a fight. Santiago was a very persistent old man as well. He was injured greatly, while fighting a battle with a great marlin; but he wouldn’t let the fish win without a fight. Eventually, Santiago killed the fish, but he was very persistent in his task. He too, would not go down without a fight.
Hemingway Code Hero The old man, in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, follows quite a few criterions to Hemingway’s Code Hero. The night
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Ernest Hemmingway's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ernest Hemmingway's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

    Hemmingway’s short story “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” begins with an old man drinking brandy in a Spanish café late at night, into the early hours of the morning. A young waiter is upset, wishing that the old man would leave so that he and the older waiter could close the café and go home. However, the older waiter realizes that the old man must be lonely, especially since he had attempted to hang himself the week before. When the old man finally leaves the waiters close the café, with the younger waiter going home to his family and the older waiter wandering the streets to find his own clean, well-lit place.…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Comparison of Black Balloon and the Old Man and the Sea
    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Comparison of Black Balloon and the Old Man and the Sea

    Ernest Hermingway’s novella, The Old Man and The Sea characterizes Santiago as an old man who is going it alone from struggling against defeat. In the opening paragraph, Santiago has been without fish for 84 days, and will soon pass his own record of 87 days. Almost as a reminder of Santiago’s struggle, the sail of his skiff resembles “the flag of permanent defeat”.…

    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Farewell to Arms Hemingway Hero Portrayal
    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Farewell to Arms Hemingway Hero Portrayal

    Ernest Hemingway illustrates in his book, Farewell to Arms, the character of Frederick Henry; an ambulance driver, who is put to the ultimate test during the madness and atrocity of WWI. His experiences at the front pose a challenge only a Hemingway hero can affront successfully. As the epitome of a code hero, Frederick is a man of action,self-discipline, and one who maintains grace under pressure but lacks certain characteristics a person should possess. Throughout the book, Hemingway expresses a variety of themes which include death, traditional values, and courage.…

    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Is Santiago Different From The Book
    • 613 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Is Santiago Different From The Book

    Then he went to get coffee for when the old man wake up. The others fishermen recognized the merit of Santiago when they see the rest of the fish which was a…

    • 613 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Old Man and the Sea
    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Old Man and the Sea

    In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is challenged to fight his way through multiple forces. Him trying to overcome these obstacles are not just because of the threat to his survival. He does it for his own personal content and confidence. All throughout the book, the Old Man has to face the power of the Marlin, the sharks, the ocean, and his lack of energy. His peaceful fishing adventure changed to a not so happily ever after ending, unfortunately. Without breaking down these barriers one at a time, Santiago would never have been able to progress like he did. Though he did not end up bringing home the Marlin as proof, Santiago is motivated with his determination.…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Great Gatsby Dialectical Journal
    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Great Gatsby Dialectical Journal

    “No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. But it is unavoidable. I must remember to eat the tuna before he spoils in order to keep strong. Remember, no matter how little you want to, that you must eat him in the morning. Remember, he said to himself.” Yet again, Santiago pairs one of his burdens with the optimism that to acutely characterizes him. He freely admits to being a lonely, old man, and yet it is this common theme of determination that presents itself here, yet again, to help the old man overcome his obstacles. He has the mindset that he is going to preserver until the end of time, which literally for him could mean his death. On page 52, he actually confirms this notion, saying “Fish…I’ll stay with you until I am dead.” His pure strength of mind is so unbelievable fortified here that he has no trouble in bluntly admitting to his own likely demise. There is a significant difference between admitting to something, and succumbing to it, however. Santiago In this case, however willing to admit to his flaws and handicaps, is in no way yielding to his own demise. He is ready to give all he’s got in the name of this war of fish versus man. He confirms this fact on page 54 when he says “Fish…I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ernest Hemingway's Short Story 'A Clean, Well-Lighted Place'
    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ernest Hemingway's Short Story 'A Clean, Well-Lighted Place'

    While Hemingway's short story "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" is usually interpreted as a representation of the conflict between man and aging, it is also a fruitful example of negatively-used social categorization. In the story, the young waiter’s use of person perception is completely offensive to the old man who falls victim. Due to the young waiter’s inability to sympathize with the old man, the waiter grows increasing more rude and cruel as the story continues. In Ernest Hemingway’s “A Clean Well-Lighted Place”, the young waiter designates the old man as undeserving of freedom and life based on the man being elderly, deaf, and alone in the café.…

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Code Hero In The Great Gatsby And The Old Man
    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Code Hero In The Great Gatsby And The Old Man

    Among the many definitions of a hero, Hemingway’s is a rather profound take on the usually glamorized figure. Using the character Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway crafts the supposed epitome of his code hero, as Santiago is described as “salao, which is the worst form of unlucky”(1). In a short description, the code hero typical lives a life of consistent misfortune as…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Old Man And The Sea Quotes
    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Old Man And The Sea Quotes

    In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemmingway expresses the idea that when one shows honour during struggle, defeat, and even death, one may be rewarded with greatness due to their perseverance. Hemmingway shows this through the character of Santiago, and the journey he goes on. From when he was first introduced, to the moment he caught the fish, and finally when Santiago arrives back home, he showed honour during his finest and most unfavourable moments.…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Santiago Vs Ishoo
    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Santiago Vs Ishoo

    In “ Old Man and The Sea “ by Ernest Hemingway Santiago is a poor old man that survives in life by fishing. With his wife dead and him never having kids he is the only person left in his family. For 84 days in a row Santiago goes without catching a single fish. This is a man that works to feed himself and he is not catching anything. Santiago is a hero like character. With the extreme dedication to his craft and masterful patience the type of person that Santiago is, is who everyone else would like to model himself after. While most strive for money and material goods Santiago represents something more powerful and unique.…

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of How Santiago Treats The Marlin
    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of How Santiago Treats The Marlin

    Santiago is treated poorly by his other fisherman because he has not caught a fish in eighty-four days. An example of how the old man was not respected by his fellow fisherman is “Many fishermen made fun of the old man… Others, of the older fisherman, looked at him and were sad. But they did not show it…”(Hemingway 11). His fellow fisherman did not…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Old Man and the Sea
    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Old Man and the Sea

    In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is challenged to fight his way through multiple forces. Him trying to overcome these obstacles are not just because of the threat to his survival, but also for his own personal content and confidence. All throughout the book, the Old Man has to face the power of the Marlin, the sharks and ocean, his own loneliness without the boy there with him, and his lack of energy. His peaceful fishing adventure changed to a not so happily ever after ending unfortunately. Without breaking down these barriers one at a time, Santiago would never have been able to progress like he did though, even if in the end he didn't end up bringing home the Marlin as proof.…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Does Hemingway Challenge the Notion of Heroism
    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Does Hemingway Challenge the Notion of Heroism

    The concept of heroism in A Farewell to Arms is contested as Hemingway asserted what he defines as the deeds, goals, and the necessity of a hero. Heroism is defined by Hemingway as a character trait which allows the person to abide by a personal code that not only fights for themself, but for those around him. These actions are called into question as the arrogance of other characters, such as Ettore, Bonello, and the engineers, is compared to Henry who seemingly eschewed glory for the sake of protection. This allowed Hemingway to articulate how a hero should act and determine what a hero should base their decisions upon. The gratification of heroism is also put in context as Hemingway challenges what a hero should fight for. Whether they fight for a sense of personal glory and success, or a far more intangible notion, such as happiness. Indeed, Hemingway does define heroism as the ability to abide by a moral code of honour to achieve survival and defend companions in the hope of achieving some form of happiness, a definition made manifest through the protagonist, Frederic Henry. The nature of heroism is not the only theme Hemingway explores here, with the relevance and necessity of bravery in society also up for examination.…

    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Old Man and the Sea
    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Old Man and the Sea

    Throughout the constant struggle between Santiago and the fish, he is forced to prove his skills as a fisherman and conduct his discipline to retain his manhood. Santiago's moral dilemma he faces to converse with the sea regards a large mysterious marlin. From the time the old man hooks the great fish to when he finally captures him; Santiago faces the hardest of adversity that reflects his age and discipline with his stamina to push his own limits. His entire journey amasses conflicts that lead to his own suffering. These unavoidable events leave scars upon scars to his hands and threaten the brink of consciousness for Santiago. He constantly remembers his discipline in order to keep the fish. He wishes the fish would begin to fight back so he can capture him faster. In the prolonged struggle between the fish and the old man his conscience questioned his justifications for battling such a great creature. Always in the back of his mind was the young boy who he valued for friendship and companionship. These ideals helped Santiago remember his discipline for fishing and his integrity for his own manhood.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Comes with Old Age?
    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What Comes with Old Age?

    What comes to mind when you think of life? Do you view life with an ever go lucky viewpoint and are you happy and content? Are you an optimist? Or do you think life is a means to and end with nothing to look forward to but depression and sorrow. In Earnest Hemingway’s story “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” Hemmingway makes the point that when you get older there is nothing but desperation and sorrow to live for. He does this by showcasing the story between a younger and an older waiter working late at night in a well-lit café where the only customer in the café is a very old deaf man getting drunk by himself. The story illustrates through characterization and verbal irony what it means to deal with the harsh reality that everything we are and everything we do is empty. Hemmingway presents two kinds of characters, those that are unaware of the emptiness of life and those that are familiar with it. He does this by focusing on three main characters throughout the short story; an old man, a younger waiter, and an older waiter where each has a subtly different outlook on life.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics