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Eco-critical Analysis of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea
Reeta S. Harode, Associate Professor & Head, Dept. of English Vasantrao Naik Govt. Institute of o f Arts & Social So cial Sciences, Nagpur.
Eco-criticism
has
become
a
widely
Though eco-criticism as a formal
discussed topic in recent years. Due to the
theory has been developed in 1990’s, but
over exploitation of natural resources of the
eco-critical
earth man is facing with ecological &
present among the writers since ancient
environmental crisis. Survival of man itself
times. Classic writer were unconsciously
has become threatened in this ecologically
performing
degraded world. In order to save our planet
writings since ancient times. We can see
earth it has become necessary for everyone
eco-critical consciousness in the writing of
to contribute in their own way. Hence eco-
writers like Virgil, John Clair, Thoreau,
criticism is one of the ways chosen by
Rachel
humanist to fight for the survival pf the
slow
planet earth.
consciousness took shape of an organization
consciousness
eco-criticism
was
always
through
their
Carson etc. After many years of development,
eco-critical
According to Cheryl Glotfelty “eco-
known as ‘The Association Of The Study Of
criticism is the study of the relationship
Literature And Environment’ famous as
between
‘ASLE’.
literature
and
the
physical
environment”
The term eco-criticism was coined by
Recently the natural world described
William
Rueckert.
In
1978,
Rueckert
by Hemingway in his works has come under
published an essay titled literature and
the scrutiny of eco-critics. This article gives
ecology: an experiment in eco-criticism. The
an overview of the movement and an eco-
aim of this essay was to focus on how
critical analysis of Hemingway’s
ecological concept can be applied to the
Man & The Sea’. Volume III Issue No.III
‘The Old
study of literature. Before the formation of May- July 2013
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‘ASLE’, the important works related to eco-
treatment of ecological values, setting of
criticism were scattered under the headings
environment & perception
like
woman towards nature in literary text.
pastoralism,
human
ecology,
regionalism etc.
of man &
The theory of eco-criticism is not as
In 1996 after the publication of the
simple as it seems to be. This is because of
anthology ‘ eco-criticism reader’, by Cheryl
the wide differences between the approaches
Glotfelty, eco-criticism emerged as one of
of different critics & scholars towards eco-
the prominent theories. This book is the first
criticism. In opinion of some critics ,
eco-critical anthology which represents the
political & social agendas are associated
major viewpoints and topics in us eco-
with eco-criticism, whereas some reject the
criticism from an environmental & cultural
involvement of any kind of political &
point of view can be quoted from this book:
social agenda with it. The reason for such
“ Eco-criticism is the study of the relationship physical
between
environment
diversification in approach towards the eco-
literature
&
the
criticism is because some eco-critics taking
just
feminist
in view post- structuralist notion of ‘cultural
as
criticism examines language & literature
constructedness’ &
from a gender –conscious perspective and
linguistic,
Marxist criticism brings
an awareness of
construction which are naturalized while
modes of production & economic class of
some refuse the constructedness of the
its reading of texts, eco-criticism takes an
nature and believe
earth centered approach to literary studies”.
That existence of the nature is outside in
The approach of eco-criticism is opposite
to
the
Anthropocentrism.
approach
of
social,
environment
itself
consider nature as a political
aloof
&
from
cultural
social,
political and cultural construction.
Anthropocentrism
Peter
Barry in this ‘Beginning
considers human being as most important as
Theory’ put forward the middle path for the
compared to everthing else on the earth. But
eco-critical approach. He has provided a
eco-criticism
the
theory in which he has divided the global
ecosystem, it considers ecosystem at the
‘outdoor environment’ in four overlapping
canter of everything else.
areas which move gradually from nature to
gives
importance
to
Thus we find that eco-critics try to analyse
the
representation
Volume III Issue No.III
of
nature,
culture.
The first area is ‘the wilderness’
deserts, oceans, uninhabited continents come
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under this category; the second is ‘the scenic
fish he ties it at the side of the boat as the
sublime’ which includes forests, lakes,
fish is bigger than the boat. While returning
mountains, cliff, waterfalls etc. The third
towards harbour due to the smell of
area is ‘the countryside which consists of
marline’s blood a group of sharks are
hills, fields, woods & the fourth is ‘the
attracted towards the dead fish. They eat the
domestic picturesque’ into which parks,
whole fish of the marline . In the end of the
gardens, lanes etc are included.
story after a fierce fight Santiago returns to
We can see that from area one to area
the harbour only with the big carcass of fish.
four we move from pure nature to culture.
The central theme of the novel “the
While reading the literary text from the eco-
old man & the sea” is of one man’s courage
critical point of view all these four areas
& his heroic quest. If analyse the story from
have to be considered together because they
eco-critical point of view, the basic theme of
are affected by one another.
We cannot
the novella is human being’s struggle against
consider anyone area independently. Thus in
nature & its consequences. Here nature is
eco-critical reading ‘setting’ of the literary
symbolized in a form of a big fish marline
work becomes central which was considered
which is to be respected for its power .
as the marginal earlier.
Santiago through his courage conquers the
Nature plays an important role in Hemingway’s The Old Man & The Sea. The
fish ,but at least is defeated by another natural entity sharks.
major setting of the novel is in the
The most significant aspect of this
wilderness of the sea. The whole story is
novel is that it deals primarily with the
based on the struggle of old fisher man for
physical world of the protagonist .The
catching a big marline fish in Gulf Stream.
physical
Santiago the old fisher man is unable to catch a fish for continuous 84 days His
world
of
the
protagonist
is
secondary in the novel. The importance is given to the environment of Santiago.
apprentice a boy called Manoline, under the
While accessing an environment of
pressure of his parents leaves him & shifts
an individual in literary work eco criticism
with
is
gives importance to the feelings of an
completely alone. On eighty-fifth day he
individual towards his own environment. If
catches a very big marline. He struggles for
we look at the environment of the fisherman
three days to kill the fish. After killing the
Santiago,
another
boat.
Volume III Issue No.III
The
old
man
May- July 2013
we
find
that
in
his
world
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everything in its place. There is the sea with
livelihood depends on it. After getting
its creatures in it, the birds ,the sun, the
hooked to the line fish is unable to eat
moon, the stars etc. Santiago seems to have
anything. Santiago feels sorry for the great
sympathy towards the birds & animal on the
fish because it had nothing to eat anything.
sea. When a small warbler bird comes
Santiago
towards to his skiff from the north, Santiago
because determination to kill the fish
allows him to take rest on his skiff. When
never relaxed in spite of his feeling sorry
birds flies around Santiago’s head & rests
for it. While the struggle
on line , Santiago speaks with the bird as if
going
he is his friend. Santiago seems to have
people who will eat the fish. he ponders
sympathetic feelings towards all creatures he
how many people will be fed by the fish
meet during his time on the sea. He regards
& whether they are really worthy to eat
the flying fish as “his principal friends on
him . he considers
the ocean”, He is also sorry for the turtles
eating a big fish, from the manner of the
that are killed by other fisherman from other
behaviour & dignity of the fish with his
boats. He does not like to kill turtle because
struggle with Santiago .
turtle’s heart beats for hour after it has been
feels good that he does not have to try
butchered. The old man thins that his heart
to kill the sun
too is like that of turtle. Here we find that
.for him it is enough to live on the sea & kill
old man is not like most people who have no
his true brothers i.e. fish. This shows that
feelings for animals & consider them as
out of the
worthless as compared to human being.
livelihood Santiago has to do the job of
During his struggle with marline he
feels
on
sorry
Santiago
for the
is
with fish is
thinks
no one
or the
great
about
the
worthy
of
Santiago also
moon or the stars
compulsion of
earning
a
killing not because he enjoys it.
has compassion for marline but at the same
This shows that not only the
time he is determined to kill the big fish.
fish & men are equal in Santiago’s eyes but
The feeling of old man seem to be conflict.
also
His feelings for marline as compared to the
nature .even the stars are his “brothers”.
all other elements that are united in
flying fish ,birds & turtles are different . The
It seems that Hemingway is
whole situation seems to be ambivalent in
aware of the fact that everything has a role
spite of having compassion for big fish he is
to play in this world. Saniago’s role is to
adamant to kill it. This is because his
kill the marline; thec marlin’s
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role is to
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escape from it. The bird on the sea has to
in “The Old Man &The Sea” it seems that
catch the fish to survive, but
he has no
he is very close to nature &he likes the
chance because the flying fish are too big for
natural environment. By the manner of his
him & they go too fast he is aware of the
glorifying the killing of fish it reflects that
principle of hunting & being hunted.the
he is not aware of ecological balance, but at
stronger one is always superior
to the
the same time he is aware of the man’s
weaker one. santiago also experiences this
helplessness in front of nature. At the end of
principle when the stronger creatures(the
the story Santiago returns
sharks) attack and take away catch.
with the Skelton of fish, from the Santiago
We find that old man’s relation
,Hemingway makes
to the harbour
us aware of the
with the creatures of nature is friendly, but
repercussions of human beings going against
he lacks eco-critical consciousness . He is
the elements of nature.
united with his environment we find that he
References:
knows the sea very well. Even at night in
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the
absolute darkness, he knows us that he is
Sea. London: Arrow Books, 1993
close with nature .the birds for e.g. give him
Barry ,Peter. Beginning Theory.2 edition
a hint
.Chennai: T.R Publications,2006.
where exactly fish can be found. the
nd
stars show him direction in night, he never
Glotfelty, Cheryll and Harold Fromm ,eds
feels lost in darkness. But in spite of his
.The Ecocriticism Reader Landmarks
closeness with nature he is not aware of the
Literary
fact that killing the endangered species like
Press,1996.
Ecology. Athens: U of Georgia
marline may lead to breakdown as well as disorganization of environmental structure. This shows that Hemingway himself has ambivalent attitude towards nature. by the manner of his description of his environment
Volume III Issue No.III
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