The Old Man And The Sea, 1952
(Ernest Hemingway)
On the surface of it, the idea of a very short book about a fisherman sounds like either an extremely boring read, or some kind of childish mini-adventure. It's got very few characters, hardly any actual events, no snappy dialogue, no twists and turns and certainly not any kind of tangible love story. It is testament to Hemingway's writing that the book is captivating and evocative from the very start, and totally immerses you in this very private set of thoughts and experiences. The writing is so careful and powerful in it's presentation of the mindframe of someone so focused on their task that you get swept along too, and attach far greater weight and meaning to the dramatically relatively weak events than you would otherwise. It is practically the definition of simplicity and elegance, and serves as a strong warning to those who believe that bolstering books out with epic adventures or realistic fact tauting is the only way to touch people and create a lasting impact. The book loses none of it's appeal over time, and is hardly likely to become outdated anytime soon, dealing as it does with both simple and global experience of the sea and the predator/prey relationship, and yet also with abstract themes of contest, challenge and self determination. It also brings upon the reader thematic material with regards to having proper respect for the natural world, the animals on which we feed and also for the notion of wisdom through experience. The master and apprentice relationship of the story, and the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of both youth and age carry reflection on the generational cycle, and in a way that is both poignant and also extends way beyond the simple context of the book. Just like a film such as Lost in Translation, one is either completely charmed by the experience of this simple, modest and subtle work or totally non-plussed at the lack of an 'action' filled plot.
Resumos Relacionados
- Scripting For The Screen
- Once Upon A Blind Date
- Fugitive Pieces
- One Night @ The Call Center
- One Night @ The Call Center
|
|
