NON — AFRICAN PROSE
ERNEST HEMINGWAY: The Old Man and The Sea
Examine the use of flashback and monologue in the novel.
Explanation
The use of flashback provides the reader with ample information about Santiago’s past family life and failures. Through this means, the reader learns that Santiago teaches Manolin to fish and that they have both gone on several fishing expeditions before. Through the flashback device, the reader also discovers that, as a young man, the old man, known as Santiago El Campeon, is a bundle of energy. It is this vigorous energy that the unleashes to defeat the great negro of Cienfuegos in a nerve-racking hand game. It is also through the use of flashback that the reader learns of Santiago’s love for baseball, and his liking for beer and coffee. All these serve to bring out the humanity of Santiago, and make it easier for the reader to empthathize with him in his travails at sea.
The use of monologue also runs through the novel. By this means, the old fisherman talks to himself on several occasions. So also does he address the aquatic and aerial creatures, including the great fishes and the sharks he has to contend with as though they could hear him and respond. In a particular monologue, Santiago does not fail to recognize the strong affinity between man and the elemental forces, in spite of the relentless struggle between them and man. He believes that like us, the elements have feelings and that they deserve not only understanding but also love and respect. For instance, he sees the sea as feminine —la mar — and something that can give or withhold favors and that if she does wild or wicked things at times, it is because she cannot help it. He equally believes that the marlin he traps and wants to kill also has the right to live, struggle for dear life and kill him in self-defence. The use of monologue therefore enables the reader to have an insight into the old man’s subconscious and inner self, especially his deep feelings about the marlin, Manolin, human nature and the quintessential stuff he himself is made of.