Cultural Elements Reflected in TOMS

Both Cuban and American culture are featured in The Old Man and the Sea and both are prominent influential elements in Hemingway's life. The cultures of the time are also reflected in the nature of the story line, being set within the small fishing village culture of the Cuban laborers, but also in a number of details mentioned throughout the course of the story.

Whilst church and state were considered separate entities in Cuba, there was a strong Catholic influence which is demonstrated through some of Santiago's comments relating to what prayers he should say and whether he has committed a sin in wanting to keep the fish intact. There is also imagery that compares Santiago himself to Christ enduring his hardships. It encourages us to think of fishing and the struggle it involves with the intrinsic good in Christianity. Hemingway was influenced by the religious aspect of Cuban culture and also by the religious views of his wife(wives).

Hemingway portrays Cuban culture through the simple lives of the fishermen who endure hardship and challenge in what is portrayed as a noble life. He uses Cuban terms to illustrate the way of life and also brings in an element of "machismo" into the way Santiago and Manolo talk and act which is a traditional aspect of Cuban culture.

American culture also adds to the cultural atmosphere of the novel. The text itself exemplifies the importance of American culture to both Santiago and Manolin through references of American culture due to their obsession over baseball. Santiago worships Joe DiMaggio and the New York Yankees. This link to American culture from a tiny Cuban fishing village stems from the history of Cuba and American globalism. It can be said that this baseball obsession is a product of American culture being forced upon Cuba during the Cold War as an exercise in anti-communist propaganda. Hemingway is reflecting the social and political actions of the time into the novel and the main protagonists.

While there are a number of cultural elements reflected in the story, they are so beautifully and simply woven into the storyline, they serve to help us further understand the life and struggle of the old man.

Click here to see Life Magazine images (c. 1952) that richly and simply show culture and life in Cuba.