The old man and the Sea Page (60)

"If he will jump I can kill him. But if he stays down forever. Then i will stay down with him forever." What i get from this is, if I could make sense of this idea, than I could have something to write about, but if the idea does not appear to me, than I have nothing to contribute.

I can understand that.

I thought this statement was leaning towards Hemingway's suicidal thoughts because he felt that the fish's jump was the only thing that could save him, but if it ended up sinking (meaning death), he should might as well join it.

It seemed like an all or nothing kind of statement.

VivianH wrote:I can understand that.

I thought this statement was leaning towards Hemingway's suicidal thoughts because he felt that the fish's jump was the only thing that could save him, but if it ended up sinking (meaning death), he should might as well join it.

It seemed like an all or nothing kind of statement.

I agree as well. It seems like catching this fish means so much to the old man; it is almost like his last hope. If the fish escapes he will no longer have the will to go on, because the feelings of hopelessness and failure will consume him. His persistence to try and catch this fish is consuming him, at this point if he lost it, his devastation might ruin him.