The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

SYNOPSIS

This is a story about an old fisherman name Santiago who went through a tough life and has faced lot of challenges. He lives alone since his wife has passed away. He has experienced a lot for his age. He knows how to fish well but it just luck that does not side with him. He has been fishing for 84 days but earn nothing. When he went back home, a boy is waiting for him and asking him, whether he manage to catch any fish. He considered the boy as his son because the boy really cares about him. He also taught the boy how to fish and the boy loves him.

On the next day, Santiago decided to go farther to catch a big fish but no fish took his bait.It has been 2 days he still does not manage to get any fish, but finally the biggest shark that he has seen in his life appears to take his bait. He tried to catch it and the shark was fighting back. Finally, he ends up throwing a spear right in the between of the shark eyes. The shark slowly dead and the blood scent has attracted something else.

In his way to go back to his fishermen village, it is not an easy way back; he has been followed by a group of sharks that caused by the blood scent.In order to get away from those shark that have been aiming the dead shark, he had to use most part of the shark body to make sure the sharks are not aiming him, for his safety.

He arrived safely, but he feels very unsatisfied because he felt that he has been defeated by those sharks then, he went straight home. The boy who had been with him, for a long time knew him well. He saw Santiago's skiff. He went to the his house and saw the old man was sleeping and Santiago looks very tired and sad. Finally the boy decided that he will go fishingwith the old man when he recovered.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

oar - a long pole with a wide flat blade at one end, used for rowing a bot

harpoon - a weapon used for hunting

marlin -  a large sea fish with a long sharp nose, which people hunt for sport

COMMENT

This is a good novel which reflects most of the fisherman's life. In this novel it tells us how hard a fisherman earns a living. We understand the hardship that has been through by the oldman. We actually feel touched while reading this novel because in this novel, we can see that the old man is a very sad character since he spending his life alone. His wife has passed away and he does not have any child. Eventhough he had this kind of life, we can also the optimistic thinking of Santiago.Example, he had a bad condition but he still motivates himself positively to go through all the pain he had. In this novel we also can see the close relationship between Santiago and the boy eventhough they are not blood related. We are satisfied with this novel and by far this is the best novel that we have read.

MORAL VALUES

1. Be grateful for everything that we have now.
2. You never what others might have went through in their life.
3. Nothing can be achieved without a hard work.
4. We must love our parents.
5. Always be considerate to others.