PrideThe book, The Old Man and the Sea, written by Ernest Hemingway, tells the story of an old man and his trials and tribulations at sea. It is a story of courage, steadfastness and, above all, pride. Hemingway uses many literary devices such as repetition and contrast to give pride, something generally considered a negative trait, a new twist by turning it into a positive. This positive trait gives the old man the determination and courage he carries with him during his perils at sea. The main protagonist of the book, an old fisherman named Santiago, is a unique person in a way that his pride is different from most others. His pride is a good thing, something that serves as the main fuel for the old man's resilience throughout the story. Santiago is not a boastful person, rather he is proud of who he already is, a fisherman and a man. Although he is a proud man, he also shows humility. For example, when Manolin, his fishing partner, praises him by saying: “the best fisherman is you” (23). Santiago rejects him, saying that “I know others better” (23). This shows that Santiago's pride provides him with the perfect balance between boastfulness and humility. Santiago's decision to go further offshore shows an attempt to regain "his long-lost pride" (93). As the old man fights the marlin, the action of the fish circling his boat is constantly repeated. Hemingway's use of repetition emphasizes the difficulty of the battle. The repetitive use of the word circle describes how the struggle between the two very stubborn enemies continued continuously, as if in a circle. Fueled by his pride, the old man's motivation remains unwavering throughout the film. He withstands the intense park... middle of paper... rk defeated him: “They beat me. They really beat me” (124). His use of repetition shows that he too cannot believe he was beaten. However, he still contains his pride and plans to go out to sea again. He accomplished what he set out to do in the first place. He regained his pride. Hemingway's use of repetition and contrast helps to develop the story and reinforce the central theme of pride. It highlights the significance of pride as the main source of inspiration and determination that fuels the entire experience of the old man. Without his pride as a fisherman and his work, the old man would have easily given up. But as the story unfolds, it is precisely the pride the old man feels in his work and his life that makes him face the challenges and dangers at sea to satisfy his self-esteem as a great fisherman and ultimately emerge triumphant..