Question- Comment upon the symbolic role played by Di Maggio in the novel "The Old Man And The Sea'...

Or
Along with Manolin and lions, Di Maggio also plays a significant role in the revitalization of the old man's energy. Discuss. Or
Comment upon the significance inherent in the constant references to Di Maggio, the star baseball player in the novel "The Old Man and the Sea'.

Answer-

The boy keeps me live...I must not deceive myself", admits the old man. He himself realizes that without Manolin's memory during his three day ordeal against the giant fish Marlin he would have found it impossible to keep his strength at the desired pitch. Though the old man does not say so and perhaps does not realize it, Di Maggio, the great base-ball player also serves the same useful purpose of sustaining the old man's strength in all the crucial hours when. to meet the crisis the struggler needs a superhuman effort with exceptional and extraordinary strength.

Even before the significant trip we see the old man fondly talking about the legendary New York Yankee center felder "Joltin Joe Di Maggio". On the 40th day of failure after returning from yet another unsuccessful trip to the Gulf-Stream Santiago accepts a glass of beer offered by Manolin and after drinking it walks back to his shack. There he reads baseball news in the paper which he has borrowed from Pedrico. The old man is confident of the Yankee's victory as they have Di Maggio on their team. A bit later after eating the supper brought by Manolin from the restaurant terrace, the old man once again indulges in his favourite pastime and talks about the baseball. In the mind of Santiago Di Maggio has become a symbol of endurance because he, inspite of a bone spur in the heel. makes a difference by his presence in the performance of the team. Di Maggio is very close to the old man for one more reason and that is the fact Di Maggio's father was also a fisherman like Santiago. The old man cherishes a desire in his heart to take the baseball player with him for fishing. Manolin thinks that both Di Maggio and Santiago are the best in their respective fields and that is perhaps the real foundation of the affinity that Santiago feels for the player.

The next morning the old man rows his boat out of harbour. He is determined not to return without a fish. He goes too far out and then a giant fish Marlin swallows the bait. The old man uses all his strength to pull the fish to the surface but in vain. Then starts the great test of patience and endurance. On the second day of his struggle, when the old man feels tired and is worried about the possibility of losing the game, he thinks of Di Maggio again. He wants to divert his thoughts from his pain and employs the thoughts of the Grand League baseball matches being played in the New York for the purpose. "I must have confidence", he says. "and I must be worthy of the great Di Maggio who does all things perfectly even with the pain of the bone spur in the heel". After killing the Marlin and tying his head against the bow, the first thought that he has in his mind is that great Di Maggio would be proud of his performance. After reaching the sea-shore the old man lies down exhausted on his spring-bed and sleeps face down with his arms out straight and the palms of the hands up. The next morning he regains some of his strength by drinking coffee with plenty of milk and sugar in it, he desires the boy Manolin to bring morning newspaper so that he could get some news of the baseball matches in New York.

Besides this function of revitalization of the old man's energy. Di Maggi serves one more purpose in the novel and that is of putting forward the old man's wish to be recognised as an individualist who stands out from the crowd. In the words of Brenner. "Santiago's wish to be regarded as strange or unique is simply the utterly common ambilition to gain recognition for uncommon deeds or achieve ments, to be deferred to as a notable or celebrity, to establish a reputation that awes beholders." Brenner regards Santiago's day-dreaming identification with Di Maggio as adolescent. It is the normal tendency of the young to identify with role models. They usually idolize exemplary athletes, superstars or idealized career figures. They spur themselves into emulating their deeds and philosophies and imitating their mannerisms and habits. Santiago loves and idolizes on aging and injured figure. This is quite appropriate for someone who himself is so old and wounded both physically and mentally. "As with his dreams of the lions, however, Santiago singles out another "royal" figure in Di Maggio, whose 56- consecutive-game hitting streak in 1941 is virtually an untouchable record- - one that many sports fans regard as the most remarkable athletic performance of all time and one that statisticians marvel at because of the enormous odds against accomplishing it. Santiago identifies with this athletic "lord of the universe". not some lesser athlete." (Brenner). Santiago identifies with the kings of beasts ie the lions and now chooses to identify with Di Maggio who virtually ruled the world of base- ball for a long time. This tendency to identify with the best betrays his obsession with greatness. He sometimes refers to Dick Sisler and some baseball managers too but repeats one adjective for all of them i.e., great. Indeed in a passage of about 420 words the word is used a dozen times. It may be argued that Santiago uses the epithet 'great' to relate to Manolin's level of usage and ideas, But the conversation leads to an admiring comment from Manolin's mouth that Santiago is "the best fisherman". Santiago at this point, displays some modesty and says, "I know others better." But that brings Manolin's retort in its trail, “There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you." Brenner's comments on the conversation are "This puts Santiago in a class by himself, which may have been Santiago's intent throughout the conversation and the litany of "greats".

...Prev | Next...