What thats it?
My initial reaction on reaching the finish of the book was thats it? I felt that it just kind of ended even though there was more that could have been said. I felt that it is almost a sad ending also because I get the impression that the man will not live much longer. I think that the boy is deeply saddened by seeing the man home again in such a terrible condition. I also think that he has realized how little time they really have left together.
As the boy went out the door and down the worn coral rock road he was crying again.
I think that the boy is having many different emotions at the moment he is going through the joy that the man is back, the sorrow at the mans condition, and the extremely short time that is left to them. He is also dealing with the fact that even though the man caught a huge fish he wasn’t able to return with it and the is making him greive for the old man also.
Some final questions I have about the book are…
I don’t understand was the fish a fish or a shark? Why didn’t the old man want the fish head? I don’t understand for sure why the boy continues to cry either I mean the man is home now.
I think that it is symbolic that the search parties were out looking for him and that is most likely what the plane was that he saw. I also think that the fish itself was a symbol and that it stood for everything the man was. Now that the fish is dead the man really has nothing else to live for and he is constantly saddened and reminded of the fish everytime he goes fishing or talks to a fishermen.
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I think you’re right to tie the fish’s fate and the old man’s together, and in doing so, I also think you’ve answered your own question about the boy crying so much. He likely sees the same thing you see, that “he has realized how little time they really have left together.” That might explain some of his urgency to learn what he can from the old man.