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The Old Man and The Sea
By: Jack Basnight
Archetypes
Santiago and Manolin can be linked to many archetypes. Some of these
being, hero, sidekick, best friend, and father figure. Santiago would be the
hero of the book because he is the one that has to go out and track and
catch the fish. He is in a way Manolin’s father figure too. He spends much
time with him and teaches him valuable life lessons. But Manolin could also
be Santiago’s father figure. Manolin takes care of Santiago by bringing him
food, blankets, and keeping him company. Manolin would have to be the
sidekick. He doesn’t do much in the story but he is definitely side kick
material.
Comparison
Santiago and Manolin remind me of Batman and Robin. Santiago would be
Batman while Manolin would be Robin. The reason I make this comparison
is that in a way Batman and Santiago are a lot alike. They both have no
immediate family, they both have a good heart, they both try and do the
right thing, and they both have a good set of moral values. Manolin and
Robin are alike because they both don’t show up much in the stories but
when they do they make sure to help out the heroes.
The Fish
The fish could be one of two archetypes. The first being villain. The fish is
Santiago’s main foe in the story. It is challenging him like he has never been
challenged before and it could be the death of him. It could also be a sea
monster but it is not a monster sized fish so that one is still up for debate.
Relationship with the sea
Santiago’s relationship with the sea is a very
complicated relationship, for one he hasn’t caught a fish
in 84 days and it seems as if the sea has forgotten about
him. But then again he has hooked the hugest fish he
has ever seen and all he has to do is capture it. It’s kind
of like the sea is testing him to see if he is still worthy to
fish on the sea. And what a challenge it is.
In a way this is kind of his last chance to prove not
only to the sea but to himself that he is still young
enough to fish and prove everyone else on the island
wrong. We read in the book about his arm going numb
and him thinking to himself that he is going weak. We
won’t know what happens until later on into the book
though.
The Fish
Santiago
Manolin