MovieChat Forums > The Old Man and the Sea (1958) Discussion > Why did he not attempt to save some of t...

Why did he not attempt to save some of the fish?

posted 11 years ago by jackcristoe
3 replies | jump to latest

The reason explained for the old man not putting the fish on the boat was... because it was too big and too heavy - i.e. it would weigh the boat down,

But he had a knife, why could he not cut out fillets of the best part of the fish？ He had enough time as well. Is this really what a fisherman would do knowing sharks will come, just leave it?

Saying this I know nothing about fishing or sailing, so maybe there were lots of unrealistic happenings in this story, I welcome someone to correct me.

Also, I like the bit where he narrates over the dialogue of the tourists at the end :D would have been funny if he synched his voice with their lips.

[–] first-things-first 11 years ago

I think the fish became him. Both hanging on for dear life. Both attacked due to circumstances beyond their control. Both trying to remain as the best part of their lives. Whose to say that he wanted this catch for food? It could be that he wanted to show everyone that he is still capable of catching the big one with just his knowledge.

she loved poetry and romance, but she hit the glass ceiling at birth

[–] rtw416 8 years ago

Hemingway was a avid big fish fisherman...so,I trust his view of how a robust,strong proud big game fisherman would react. The title says it all. The old man past his prime in the eye of everyone but himself-just got hit with reality..he couldn't even bring the big fish aboard. His struggle is sad but true.Reality hit him so hard,he couldn't think straight.He couldn't even save a fillet.

[–] Foster (876) 6 months ago

I believe the object was to catch fish to SELL

SO he had to bring the fish back, PLUS as big as it was He'd have been quite the hero