By Jacob P.

In the captivating novella, The Old Man and the Sea, author Ernest Hemingway creates an astute character by the name of Santiago. Santiago is what most people call and old man, and thus is referred to as one, hence the books title. Like all protagonists however, Santiago faces different obstacles throughout the book. They cast a strenuous task on his physical abilities, as well as his mental. Santiago’s challenges include; coming to terms with his old age, keeping his sanity while at sea alone, and surviving under harsh conditions of a fisherman. Thus you could say since these problems derive from the sea, that the sea is Santiago's biggest obstacle.

Santiago was and always will be a man of the sea. In his youth he was a respected man, with a plethora of energy. He had once been in an arm wrestling contest for two days straight. However, time has taken a toll on his body and he is not quite what he used to be. This is a serious problem for Santiago as must fish to make a living. Throughout his days at sea he physically becomes weaker and he must eventually accept his dilemma. He is an old man who has been weakened by time and his fishing will never be as successful as it once was, as long as he does it alone. One of the biggest problems he faces is that his left hand, which is vital for fishing, becomes cramped. "...his left hand was cramped...' "What kind of hand is that, cramp then, if you want to." ' " (58) Santiago, despite the truth, brushes it off until he goes without sleep and realizes the threat of his old body at sea.

Another obstacle Santiago must obliterate is that he must maintain his sanity out at sea. Every day his is out there with that one fish, his mind grows wearier. Santiago is constantly forced to substitute inanimate objects for real beings to shadow his loneliness. For instance he talks to his cramped hand often, ' " Be patient hand, I do this for you." ' (59) As well as his hand Santiago also talks to himself in the "second person", where he replaces the word "I" for "You". ' "You better be fearless and confident in yourself old man," ' (84) However unhealthy it may seem, it does good for him, as he does not have to be completely alone at sea. Doing things such as these help him forget that he is the only one out there, and he has no help at all. Santiago is forced to do such things to keep sane. For if he had lack of sanity, his fishing would be more dangerous than it is. He would become unclear in the head, and maybe make devastating mistakes that could cost him his life.

Santiago's other big problem is that he is in a small skiff alone, with minimal supplies, and he must survive the sea. Foolishly he has taken few foodstuffs and water and becomes malnourished. Santiago has enough nourishment to keep alive, but his health decreases as he just has the bare minimum of food, and is running out. He has also not packed any form of first-aid, and faces a lacerated and cramped hand due for possible infection. Of course when under these conditions you must stay alert to protect yourself. However, Santiago says, “If [I] do not sleep [I] might become unclear in the head.” (77) Santiago has it bad enough, but the fact that he devises a way to sleep vastly increases the threat to his life. While asleep, the marlin he hooked could do any number of things such as change directions in the night, and Santiago might not know which way to turn back home.

Santiago faces all of these challenges from one source, the sea. Thus you could reason that Santiago’s obstacle is the Sea, and within it are sub-obstacles that he faces. All of the difficulties except for his age however, are derived from the sea. (His hand cramps and lacerations, his sanity and malnourishment.) Santiago faces difficulties like all characters but because the thing which torments him is also the same thing he needs to live, it makes his dilemma rather original.