The Old Man And The Sea And Islands In The Stream With Tom Hudson – Hemingway Hero Essay, Research Paper

As individuals grow older, they learn to live by a set of codes, which make up the person?s characteristics. This code of conduct could come from a single person, a family, or society itself. It?s a way to live your life, have goals to reach for and standards an individual should obtain. The author Ernest Hemingway led his own life by a set of codes, which also influence the characterization of his protagonists. The influence is strongly shown in his works, The Old Man and the Sea with protagonist Santiago, and Islands in the Stream with Tom Hudson.

A large part of the Hemingway hero codes, was that in some way, the character was afraid of darkness. This was because, to the men, it was similar to death, and they feared they would face it without ever proving themselves. In The Old Man and the Sea, you see the fear in Santiago when he refuses to sleep. Santiago began to grow weak, but still would not close his eyes to rest. He often would fight with himself on the issue; he knew he must sleep to gain strength. ?I could go without sleeping, he told himself. But it would be too dangerous? (77). Throughout the book, Santiago remains awake; as does Tom Hudson in the movie Islands in the Stream. While watching, there was hardly ever a time you could see Hudson sleeping. He was always awake and thinking about his life; it was his way of relaxing. He would also often watch his children sleep throughout the night, but never himself. That was the way that Hemingway felt a man should be, because sleeping to the characters was the elimination of a man?s consciousness.

Another large feature in a Hemingway hero was, on a daily basis, he must do things to prove himself as a man; which meant facing challenges and battles that came to them. Santiago faced a battle with a large fish, with all odds against him. He would die before he gave up the fight to kill this fish. ?I will stay with you until I am dead fish? (53). Santiago was dedicated and persistent with the fish, no matter what happened. Tom Hudson was the same way throughout the movie. Many times, he faced the chance of dying in the battles that arose to him. He took the refugees into a Cuban River area, with a Cuban Coast Guard, which had been previously shooting at him, following him. He did this to save the people; even when in doubt, Tom wouldn?t back down, he was determined to follow through. Unfortunately Tom?s determination is what led him to his death.

Death was not something the Hemingway hero feared. It was only the fear of dying and not, in their mind, proving himself as a man. The men did not believe in an afterlife, therefore this was the only time they had. If they at least die trying, they have proven themselves.

To many, a true man is always a big game hunter, a great fisherman, or something rugged and done in the outdoors. Hemingway was this way, thus, his protagonists often were as well. Santiago based his life around fishing; it was all he knew. Every morning he awoke early to get started out on the water. In old age, however, things became slow and he grew a little weaker every year that passed. Santiago knew he wasn?t what he used to be, but he ignored it, and kept going back out to the sea. Tom Hudson was also a big game fisherman in the Gulf of the Atlantic. However, unlike Santiago, Tom didn?t fish by himself, it was him and a few friends. It was what they did for a living, and what they enjoyed doing very much. Both men loved and respected the sea and thought of it as their brother. Their lives not only were based on the sea, but they depended on it as well.

Lastly, a largely shared trait amongst Hemingway?s protagonist, was their view on religion. The majority were either atheists or didn?t bother with it. Tom was one who didn?t bother with it. In some parts of the movie, it was uncertain whether or not he was an atheist. However, it was apparent that he did not believe in life after death. Santiago also was not a religious man, which he stated in parts of the book. Although he was not religious, he still would pray from time to time throughout the battle. ??I am not religious,? he said. ?But I will say ten Our Fathers and ten Hail Marys that I should catch this fish, and I promise to make a pilgrimage to the Virgin of Cobre if I catch him. That is a promise?? (64/65). So, as you can see, Santiago was one who also did not bother with religion, that is until he felt he needed it. Both men were not individuals who based or lived their life around religion, but they didn?t condemn it either.

Ernest Hemingway led his own life by a set of codes, which also influence the characterization of his protagonists. The influence is strongly shown in his works, The Old Man and the Sea with protagonist Santiago, and Islands in the Stream with Tom Hudson. The fear of darkness present in Santiago and Tom, loving and respecting the sea as fishermen, the amount of determination the characters encompassed, and the uncertain views on religion, were all a part of Hemingway himself. Following these codes were not just important to the protagonists in his works, but important to Hemingway as well. He was a man of dignity, and like Santiago and Tom, strived to prove himself on a daily basis.