Musée du Ben

My first Ernest Hemingway book. It’s very short, but it made me think a lot more than I expected. The story follows Santiago, an old fisherman who has nothing left to prove yet still gets judged by everyone around him. Even with all that criticism, he stays unbroken and doesn’t care much about what people think.

Themes

Strong Will
Santiago has a different kind of strength. He doesn’t give up, even though he knows his life looks sad from the outside. He believes in himself when literally no one else does, and that belief is what carries him through the toughest moments at sea. His patience is crazy — especially during the long fight with the marlin. Every obstacle feels like something he chooses to take on. His willpower is stronger than the doubts thrown at him.

Friend Indeed
Manolin, the young boy, is the softest part of the story for me. Everyone deserves someone who believes in them the way he believes in Santiago. Santiago constantly thinks about him during the journey and wishes the boy was with him. Manolin doesn’t do much in the plot, but his presence feels so important.

Compassion
For a fisherman, Santiago has a lot of compassion. Even while hunting the marlin, he keeps talking to it, imagining its thoughts, treating it with respect. It’s like he understands the fish more than he understands people. The marlin ends up feeling like a character itself — not just something he’s catching.

Failure and Enlightenment
Just when he’s about to win, the sharks show up. And they don’t stop. It feels exactly like those moments in life when you’re at 99% and then everything collapses. But Santiago doesn’t break. His dream of the lions on the beach keeps him going — such a weird dream, but it clearly means something deep to him. He comes back home tired and empty-handed, but somehow at peace.

Thoughts on Writing

It’s a simple book, but the thoughts inside Santiago’s head make it feel very layered. The marlin being treated almost like a friend is what surprised me the most. Hemingway writes the sea, the fish, and the struggle in a way that almost feels like watching a quiet movie. It stays with you even after finishing it.