City Postgraduate College for Women Jhelum

A character Sketch the Sea. / Discuss the sea as a

living reality. The symbolic significance of the sea.
The sea plays an important part in shaping the destiny and character of
different characters of the novel. It influences of different characters of the
novel. It influences Santiago, the boy, the Marlin and the sharks in its
various moods and styles. Its dominant role is that of a kind being.
However, it does not treat the Old Man kindly. On the contrary, it puts up
various hardships on his way. It makes his life difficult During storms, the
Old Man curses it. But on the whole, the sea supplies livelihood to
Santiago and other fishermen. 
A large number of fishermen living in Havana, depend on the sea
for their livelihood. Even the young boy, Manolin who is quite inexperienced
catches three big fish in the first week with another fisherman. Santiago too
lives on the fish he hunts and kills. When he catches the Marlin, he at once
says that "it will supply food to him and to many other people". The
Old Man considers the sea as a humane and kind being. He loves the
sea because she houses his friends and enemies. His friends are the fish
that he catches and eats. 
The Old Man loves the turtles and the tortoises that live in the
sea. He considers it to be his home. The Old Man thinks that man is never
alone at the sea because small birds and big birds are always flying over
her surface. Everything in the sea except the sharks is the friend of the Old
Man. The sea has her moods like a woman. Sometimes she bestows
favours on her lovers. At other times her attitude is scornful and cruel. At
the same time, sea plays its role as friend and enemy as well. It sends
different creatures in the sea to please him like a friend. It also creates
problems him like a friend as it sends sharks to defeat him. It has a
personality, different moods, colours.
It also plays as a role of a teacher or preacher. It teaches the old
man, one should not cross the boundary of his limitation, otherwise, he
will have to pay the price as he has to pay for going out in the deep sea.it
also teaches him many moral values. A man is incomplete without the
religion. One has to seek help from God in the completion of any task.
We can say that the sea is a living character of the novel, which influences
the lives of many people.