Hemingway, Ernest: 1899 - 1961

The Old Man and the Sea, 1952 - Thematic Parallels: Endurance

Hemingway, Ernest: The Old Man and the Sea, 1952
The central topic of "The Old Man and the Sea" is human endurance in the face of struggle, often framed through themes of perseverance, dignity, and the relationship between humans and nature.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Coetzee, J.M.: Youth, 2002, ~170pp
  This work explores themes of man versus nature, strength, courage, and overcoming difficulties, similar to Santiago’s journey against the sea and the marlin.
  - Both works explore how isolation shapes self-understanding, perseverance, and the pursuit of personal goals. The central “fight” is as much internal as external—whether with an actual fish or with the fear of never fulfilling one’s potential.
- Maugham, W. Somerset: The Moon and Sixpence, 1919, ~210pp
  This novel deals with artistic struggle and human obsession, somewhat philosophical and related to human spirit.
  - In both works, the main character is consumed by a private goal that outsiders either can’t understand or view as irrational. They live at odds with the conventional measures of success and respectability. In both works, the hero “loses” in tangible terms but achieves a form of immortality or spiritual fulfillment.
- Paton, Alan: Cry, the Beloved Country, 1948, ~250pp
  This work centered around endurance, hope, and humanity.
  - In both works, the true story is an internal one—how the protagonist confronts suffering with moral strength. Both use plain, poetic language to convey profound ideas without ornament. Both endings show that victory can be moral or spiritual, even if material success is lost.
- Strout, Elizabeth: Amy and Isabelle, 1998, ~300pp
  This novel explores human relationships and emotional endurance, echoing the personal struggle aspect.
  - In both works, isolation is not just loneliness — it’s the space where personal growth and self-reckoning happen. The struggle is not purely about winning or losing, but about proving something to oneself. While Strout uses more psychological interiority and Hemingway uses lean, pared-down prose, both strip away unnecessary plot mechanics to focus on character, mood, and symbolic meaning (the marlin as dignity and struggle, the mill town heatwave as emotional suffocation).
List of general discussion questions on Endurance (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Endurance (pdf)