Hemingway s Secret Autobiography Symbols - 1398 Words

James Wang Ms. D. Phillips English 9H 6 October 2015 Hemingway’s Secret Autobiography Symbols. Since the origins of organized society, mankind’s imagination has implanted deeper, figurative connotations in the simplest of objects. The dawn of Christianity saw to the introduction of one of the most impactful symbols to this day: Jesus of Nazareth s Cross. The Cross to this day embodies both the physical representation of the values of Christianity, all the while being a tangible token of atonement. Since the origins of classical literature, mankind has given the lines and scratches on a piece of paper, substance and gravity. The most read and most widely distributed written text is the Bible, a compilation of holy scriptures, where†¦show more content†¦Hemingway relays shrewdly shrouded a personal story by representing the key aspects of his life with lions, sharks, and the sea. Lions, although seemingly shallow in meaning and minor in importance, suggests deeper ties not only with the elderly protagonist, Santiag o, but to the author himself. At first glance, the lions are but mere dreams and glimpses of Santiago’s glorious and extravagant past. With a more perceptive eye, the lions begin to exhibit the desirable qualities the old man yearns for - youth, courage, strength, and prominence. Ancient civilizations regarded lions as as the physical manifestations of such qualities, and even worshipped these creatures in hopes of being blessed with their traits. The lions of Santiago’s life, the livelihood and source of motivation, are none other than Manolin and Santiago’s own youthful self. Hemingway hints this analogy as he expounds on the dreamt lions: â€Å"[The lions] played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy† (Hemingway 25). The boy, vaguely presented to The frequent dreams and dependence on Manolin are, as Hemingway revealed, the source of faith that â€Å"keeps [him] alive† (Hemingway 106). The dreams of the lions are gatew ays, reminding Santiago of his former grandeur; Manolin, his successor and youthful parallel. Despite this implication, at even closer scrutiny, the lions begin to represent pride. The group of lions on the