Sense and Sensibility (Click here to download PDF)
Historical Context | Backdrop of Regency Era, Research Article ,
The Rules of Regency Society in Jane Austen’s Novels
Study Guide on Jane Austen's Works
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Critical Insights into Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (Read online)
Title Justification of Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility and Psychoanalysis: Jane Austen and the Kristevan Semiotic
The Hemingway Code Hero is a character who embodies a specific set of optimistic characteristics in the face of a chaotic and often painful world. This hero maintains a code of honor, courage, and endurance to prove their self-worth and achieve grace under pressure. They don't shy away from life's inherent meaninglessness, but rather find purpose in their own actions and the struggle itself.
The world is often "chaotic and painful." The Code Hero, like Santiago, recognizes this reality. For Santiago, this is the reality of his long period of bad luck—he has gone 84 days without catching a fish. He is old and fragile, facing immense emotional and physical pain due to his age and poor fortune. He must confront this struggle with dignity, refusing to be defeated by the uncontrollable forces of the world.
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Santiago has gone 84 days without catching a fish, mocked as “salao.” (Worst form of luck)
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He admits he has no luck, but still says: “Every day is a new day.” (Renewed sense of purpose, existentialist)
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He pushes himself to row further than any other fisherman, accepting risk.
The core of a Code Hero is their internal courage. This is not about being fearless, but about having the courage to act and the will to persevere despite adversity. Santiago demonstrates this by continuing to fish every day. His self-discipline and unwavering hope are the "key to success."
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Santiago keeps his lines precise, saying: “It is better to be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”
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He endures hunger by chewing raw tuna strips for strength.
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He forces himself to sleep in short bursts on the skiff to conserve stamina.
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When his hand cramps, he tells himself calmly to endure until it relaxes.
A Hero faces the "ultimate defeat" of death. However, they also seek to "avoid defeat of defeat." This means that while they cannot escape death, they can live with honor and courage to ensure their struggle is not meaningless. For Santiago, the ultimate test is his battle with the marlin.
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Santiago fights the marlin for three days, refusing to cut the line though it drags him far out.
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He kills the marlin with the harpoon, but sharks devour it piece by piece.
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He returns only with the skeleton, yet does not see himself as beaten: “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
The struggle becomes a "catalyst for self-discovery." Santiago's grueling fight with the marlin is a test of his limits, pushing him to a "higher sense of being" and helping him "seek experience that makes you feel alive."
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Santiago admires the marlin as a noble opponent: “You are my brother, but I will kill you.”
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He admits his age: “I may not be as strong as I think, but I know many tricks.”
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He recalls his youth in Africa watching lions play, which reminds him of his enduring inner spirit.
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Through struggle, he learns his greatest strength is endurance and willpower.
Ultimately, the hero's victory is a "moral victory," not necessarily a physical one. When the sharks eat the marlin, Santiago loses his prize, but he has not lost his dignity. True victory lies in the sense of having fought with courage.
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Despite returning empty-handed, villagers are in awe of the giant skeleton.
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Manolin pledges to fish with him again: “Now we fish together again.”
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Santiago sleeps in peace at the end, dreaming of lions on the beach, a symbol of vitality and dignity.
Santiago's story is the perfect illustration of "grace under pressure," a core concept in Hemingway's work. By following his personal code of honor and courage, he proves his "worth/manhood" against the chaos and violence of the world.
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Santiago bears pain silently: when the marlin cuts his hands, he simply says, “Pain does not matter to a man.”
"Cheerful and Undefeated eyes" despite failure.
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He speaks respectfully to the marlin, never losing composure even in exhaustion.
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When sharks attack, he fights them with harpoon, oar, and even a broken tiller, refusing to surrender.
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He laughs at his own weakness, showing calm humor even in defeat.
