The Life and Death of Ernest Hemingway Essays on A

on March 10, 1927. After their separation, he relocated to Paris to further his writing career and left journalism behind as he gained recognition as an esteemed writer. Thanks to his accomplished maturity, he was able to author over twenty-five books and eventually returned to journalism for financial support. A significant milestone in his literary journey came with the publication of A Farewell to Arms, one of his early novels. While Three Stories and Ten Poems, his initial publication, did not achieve much success, The Old Man and the Sea stands out prominently in Hemingway's body of work as it earned him the Pulitzer Prize. This novella also reflects elements from Hemingway's own life as its protagonist Santiago shares similarities with Hemingway himself - both are elderly men with strong determination and a passion for deep-sea fishing.Santiago, the protagonist of "The Old Man and the Sea," is depicted as a heavy drinker, much like Hemingway himself, who persevered through three marriages and World War I along with other conflicts. In the novella, Santiago's deep affection for Manolin, a brave young Cuban boy, mirrors the love that Hemingway's oldest child had for his father. Despite his wealth, Santiago lives in a small shack by the shore and faces scarcity in both food and money just like Hemingway. Santiago's skill in battling fish reflects Hemingway's expertise and reputation in fist fighting. The fish caught by Santiago symbolize Hemingway's tumultuous love life which included multiple divorces, numerous wives, and the tragic death of one former wife. Similarly, the sharks slowly consuming the Marlin that Santiago worked tirelessly to catch represent how Hemingway's personal troubles gradually eroded his happiness.

Furthermore, Santiago's extensive ocean travels parallel Hemingway's insatiable wanderlust that took him from Spain and Italy to Cuba and Africa before settling in Cuba where "The Old Man and the Sea" takes place.In both the story and real life, Santiago/Hemingway often felt defeated by nature's elements such as fish and sharks, as well as his own personal struggles. Tragically, on July 2nd 1961 in Ketchum Idaho, Ernest Hemingway chose to end his life using a double barrel shotgun aimed at his head—a method reminiscent of what his father had done with a pistol. Recent events had taken a toll on him as he underwent shock therapy due to his claims of being monitored by the FBI, which he couldn't prove to convince others. The FBI's scrutiny stemmed from Hemingway's residence in Cuba during Fidel Castro's rise to power. The shock treatments weakened him mentally, leaving him vulnerable to despair. This vulnerability and Hemingway's inability to write are believed to be connected, along with his collaboration with suicide. In 1951, Hemingway experienced another loss when his mother Grace passed away. These factors, among others, could have contributed to his suicide and the overwhelming feeling he had towards his own life.

Works Cited: Hemingway, Ernest.The Old Man and the Sea.1952.New York: Simon and Schuster Inc., 1995.