The Old Man and the Sea (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) [Library Binding]

Ernest Hemingway (Editor), Harold Bloom (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations | Publication Date: September 1998

Hemingway's last work published during his lifetime.

The title, Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics. This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Ernest Hemingway, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791047784
• ISBN-13: 978-0791047781
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,532,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story "The Old Man In The Sea" was inspriational, March 11, 2002

By 

Courtney (Seattle Wa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Old Man and the Sea (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Library Binding)

The Story "The Old Man In The Sea" was enjoyable to me because it was
so inspirational to me.

Something to Inspire someone is to make someone want to so what they believe in. To tell others not to give up, not let others say that it can't be done, and most important, always have a good attitude about the goal. With the words of negativity, there isn't much to be done. But even when things aren't looking so good, just try to ignore it, and use their words to build off of to make the goal wanted to be reached even more. And in the end, it will be. That is an inspiration, just like the story.

The old man was an inspiration because he never gave up on anything that he wanted to do, no matter what anybody would say. If people let what others say to them then how could anyone do anything that they tried to accomplish? The old man didn't listen to anyone who had anything bad to say. Although if there was something good to be said, then he'd say it right back, and inspire that person to do what they wanted. The environment that the old man was living in wasn't good for his self esteem, but its very easy to beat when they have a friend right their side. One of the main characters in the story is the boy Manlio. He helps the old man with getting food, and just being his friend. To me, that can help anyone the most just by letting them know that they care, even when things are tough and there isn't much to spare.

When the old man had nothing, he still had his young friend with him. People would tell the boy that the old man was unlucky and that he was a waste of time to hangout with. Nonetheless, the young boy would still stand by his side and help the old man with whatever that he needed. He would help the old man bring in his equipment, and sit on the boat with him and give him comfort and friendship. And that right there is enough to inspire anyone to do anything. I can relate to the story very well when you want something so bad and just to prove it to others that you can when noone believes it. But then if the feeling of inspitration is there, the person will be able to get it together and do it. So then thoughts of seeing the goal being reached will make it come true, and then those who doubted, will see in the end that anyone can do anything with a little inspiration.

The old man eventually did what he set out to do. With a little help from his friend, and lots of pep talks, he did exactly what everyone said he couldn't do. Just like what was said before, if there is a friend that will inspire someone, then that person will have some inspiration, and accomplish their goal, no problem. So if a person has hope, and lives in a somewhat good encouraging environment, then that person can do it. And it has been proven in this essay that even if you don't have all of those requirements, you can still achieve the goal. I would recommend this person who is having a hard time in their lives and need some inspiration. It'd make them think twice about giving up on their goal.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best fishing book in the world, December 15, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Old Man and the Sea (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Library Binding)

This book is really very beautiful, if you think about it. It explains that santiago is a christ-like figure and has a very sweet heart, his heart is never sour.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An inspiriational book, March 11, 2002

By 

Sarah (Maple Valley, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Old Man and the Sea (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Library Binding)

Enlightening and inspirational, both words, of which, remind me of the novel by Ernest Hemmingway, The Old Man in The Sea. This novel was inspirational and enlightening because it tells you never to give up and always believe in things even when others doubt and always to have confidence in yourself and others.
The main character, Santiago, is inspirational because even during the toughest times he refused to give up. For example Santiago said, " But he cannot pull this skiff forever, no matter how great he is,"p.52. Santiago is determined and courageous. More than most men are for a fish. Most men would give up after an hour or more, but not Santiago. He stayed with that fish in the middle of the Cuban waters no matter how tired or painful the harsh mission for food was. For instance, " For an hour the old man had black spots before his eyes and sweat salted in his eyes and salted the cut over his eye and on his forehead," p.87. Even when Santiago was suffering he kept on tugging that line. Although, he was doing great by himself, he longed for the boy, Manolin, to be by his side.
Manolin was inspirational too because even when the other fishermen and town's people doubted Santiago about how lucky he was and that Santiago was bad luck, Manolin knew all along that Santiago was indeed, lucky. For example, the night before the 84th day without fish, in which Santiago knew he was lucky on that day, Manolin gave Santiago some of his best bait to help reel in the future feast. Ever since Manolin was forced to stop working with Santiago, Manolin had tried his very best to help Santiago when he had time. I thought that what Manolin did for the old man was very generous, amoungst the other helpful details Manolin did to make Santiago happy. Manolin is still a young boy and already he has learned to look past the gossip and rumors and into the real story. The young boy inspired many people in this book to not believe rumors and the outward appearance of someone, because when they thought Santiago was unlucky, he really wasn't.
Ernest Hemmingway's novel, The Old Man in the Sea is a superb and motivating fishing story about an old man who takes no regard to what others say, and goes fishing in the sea off the Cuban coast for the biggest and best fish he could find, on his 84th day without any fish. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure. Anyone who reads this about Santiago's fishing escapade won't be sorry.