The setting is the foundation of the story. Without it, we wouldn’t know where you were when everything was happening, and it would paint a much less vivid picture for the reader. Setting is one of the most important parts of a story. A story lacking setting would take place no where; making is difficult for the reader to picture what’s happening.
The old man and the sea takes place in a few creative settings. The first is a small island called Cuba. The second is out on the harsh sea in the small skiff. These are the two main settings. There are also smaller ones in between such as the peaceful hut when Santiago returns. In The Old Man and the Sea the most important setting is no doubt the sea. All the important action takes place there. Without the sea, there wouldn’t have been much of a story.
When Santiago, a jovial, wise, easygoing, carefree, sincere old man, goes out to sea on his skiff. it describes the beginning of his journey. “He fitted the rope lashings of the oars onto the thole pins and’ leaning forward against the thrust of the blades in the water, be began to row out of the harbor in the dark. There were other boats from the other beaches going out to sea and the old man heard the dip and push of their oars even though he could not see them now the was below the hills.” (28). Already has begun working, because of all that he has to do before he even pushes off into the water. He is also in the dark, which gives a sense of danger right off the bat. It hints that the sea is unpredictable, and might throw him aloof. Later on, the author describes how Santiago interacts with the sea and its inhabitants. “He was very fond of the flying fish as they were his principle friends in the ocean.” (29). Raises the question: why does he refer to them as freinds? He refers to them as friends because he talks to them and they help him find his fish. He goes on to explain more about the other fish and sea birds. He also describes his serene surroundings, like the water and the weather.
Much later in the story, Santiago is very deep out into the unsympathetic sea. He is planning the catch of the marlin. He describes his hunger, and also his surroundings. At this point, it is not much, only miles and miles of water and no sign of gloomy weather. “The sun was on the old man’s left arm and shoulder and on his back. So he knew the fish had turned east of north.” (67). This shows what time of day the story is taking place at this time. From this description we know that the sun is setting. When he actually catches the fish, you get another description of the setting that explains what time of day it is. “[Santiago] looked up at the sky and then out to his fish. He looked at the sun carefully. It is not much more than noon, he thought. And the trade wind is rising.” (96).
Finally, when the old man returns home, he finds his shack and eagerly lays down to sleep. “He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack. Inside the shack he leaned the mast against the wall. In the dark he found a water bottle and took a drink. Then he lay down on the bed. He pulled the blanket over his shoulders and then over his back and his legs and slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and his hands up.” (122). This shows how tired the old man was when he returned home. The setting is not as vivid for this part of the story, but it desribes it enough so we know where santiago is.
Notice that Ernest Hemingway uses less description of the surroundings than most authors. He uses setting to describe the time of day more than anything. He also uses it to give a feel of the temperature, such as when he describes the wind blowing and the sun on Santiago’s back.
The old man and the sea takes place in a few creative settings. The first is a small island called Cuba. The second is out on the harsh sea in the small skiff. These are the two main settings. There are also smaller ones in between such as the peaceful hut when Santiago returns. In The Old Man and the Sea the most important setting is no doubt the sea. All the important action takes place there. Without the sea, there wouldn’t have been much of a story.
When Santiago, a jovial, wise, easygoing, carefree, sincere old man, goes out to sea on his skiff. it describes the beginning of his journey. “He fitted the rope lashings of the oars onto the thole pins and’ leaning forward against the thrust of the blades in the water, be began to row out of the harbor in the dark. There were other boats from the other beaches going out to sea and the old man heard the dip and push of their oars even though he could not see them now the was below the hills.” (28). Already has begun working, because of all that he has to do before he even pushes off into the water. He is also in the dark, which gives a sense of danger right off the bat. It hints that the sea is unpredictable, and might throw him aloof. Later on, the author describes how Santiago interacts with the sea and its inhabitants. “He was very fond of the flying fish as they were his principle friends in the ocean.” (29). Raises the question: why does he refer to them as freinds? He refers to them as friends because he talks to them and they help him find his fish. He goes on to explain more about the other fish and sea birds. He also describes his serene surroundings, like the water and the weather.
Much later in the story, Santiago is very deep out into the unsympathetic sea. He is planning the catch of the marlin. He describes his hunger, and also his surroundings. At this point, it is not much, only miles and miles of water and no sign of gloomy weather. “The sun was on the old man’s left arm and shoulder and on his back. So he knew the fish had turned east of north.” (67). This shows what time of day the story is taking place at this time. From this description we know that the sun is setting. When he actually catches the fish, you get another description of the setting that explains what time of day it is. “[Santiago] looked up at the sky and then out to his fish. He looked at the sun carefully. It is not much more than noon, he thought. And the trade wind is rising.” (96).
Finally, when the old man returns home, he finds his shack and eagerly lays down to sleep. “He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack. Inside the shack he leaned the mast against the wall. In the dark he found a water bottle and took a drink. Then he lay down on the bed. He pulled the blanket over his shoulders and then over his back and his legs and slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and his hands up.” (122). This shows how tired the old man was when he returned home. The setting is not as vivid for this part of the story, but it desribes it enough so we know where santiago is.
Notice that Ernest Hemingway uses less description of the surroundings than most authors. He uses setting to describe the time of day more than anything. He also uses it to give a feel of the temperature, such as when he describes the wind blowing and the sun on Santiago’s back.
