15. SANTIAGO AS A TRUE CHRISTIAN OR SANTIAGO AS A SUPERSTITIOUS MAN
Q. Is the old man superstitious to think eight five to be the last number. Explain briefly. OR Is the old man a believer of Christianity? OR Is Santiago a religious person?
Answer: The hero of the novel, Santiago is no doubt a typical Hemingway hero who has the ability to show grace under pressure. He is a man with human wisdom and displays practical attitude towards life. Though he seems superstitious when he says that 85th is a lucky day for him, yet he is man of self-belief. He is called ‘Salao’ but he does not care for it rather he takes it as a challenge and decides to go on fishing expedition with new zeal.
After his hand is cramped, he massages his hand but also prays to God: “God help me to have the cramp go.” Before he hooks the fish, he prays to God: “God let him jump.” Similarly, at another occasion when he feels afraid of the sharks, he says: “If sharks come, God pity him and me.”
The above mentioned facts clearly show that Santiago is not a superstitious person. He is a man who has faith in God because he prays to God when he feels that he is in need. (Words: 175)