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INVESTIGATING AUTHENTICITY: EXPLORING EXISTENTIAL THEMES IN HEMINGWAY'S THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Affiliation
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Abstract

Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" tells the story of Santiago, a seasoned fisherman in a relentless struggle against nature. His journey reflects the human condition and reveals how difficult it is to find meaning and purpose in a world often indifferent to our struggles. Santiago's solitary battle symbolizes our confrontation with the absurdity of existence, highlighting isolation, resilience, and the elusive search for significance. The article draws parallels between Santiago's experience and Albert Camus's existential philosophy, especially the concept of the absurd. Through this comparison, it shows that facing life's hardships directly can lead to self-discovery and a deeper understanding of humanity. Despite defeat, Santiago embodies perseverance and reminds us of the enduring strength of the human will.

Keywords

Ernest Hemingway, *The Old Man and the Sea*, Existentialism, Authenticity, Absurd


References

  1. Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Scribner, 1952
  2. Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus. Vintage Books, 1991
  3. Sartre, Jean-Paul. Existentialism Is a Humanism. Yale University Press, 2007
  4. Nagel, Thomas. The Absurd. Journal of Philosophy, vol. 68, no. 20, 1971, pp. 716-727
  5. Eble, Kenneth. "The Theme of Isolation in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea." Hemingway Review, vol. 8, no. 1, 1988, pp. 25-38
  6. McCaffery, Larry. "Hemingway's Existentialism: The Search for Authenticity in The Old Man and the Sea." Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 32, no. 3, 1986, pp. 445-460
  7. Rilke, Rainer Maria. Letters to a Young Poet. Random House, 1986
  8. Barlow, William. "The Sea as a Metaphor for Life in Hemingway's Works." Stud- ies in American Fiction, vol. 16, no. 2, 1988, pp. 171-182

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