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. is a story of courage, determination 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 spin by transforming it into a positive trait. This positive trait gives the old man the determination and courage that he carries with him throughout his perils at sea. The main protagonist of the book, an old fisherman named Santiago, is a unique person in the sense that his pride does not looks like most others. His pride is a positive thing, something that acts as the main fuel for the old man's resilience throughout the story. Santiago is not a braggart, he is rather proud of what he already is, a fisherman and a man. Despite being a proud man, he also displays humility. For example, when Manolin, his fishing partner, congratulates him by telling him: “the best fisherman is you” (23). Santiago rejects her, saying that “I know the others better” (23). This proves that Santiago's pride gives him the perfect balance between boastfulness and humility. Santiago's decision to go further into the sea demonstrates an attempt to regain "his vanished 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 highlights the difficulty of the battle. The repetitive use of the word circle describes how the fight between two very stubborn enemies continued continuously, as if taking place in a circle. Fueled by his pride, the old man's motivation remains unwavering. He withstands the intense play... middle of paper ...... the workers beat him: “They beat me. They really beat me” (124). His use of repetition shows that he too cannot believe that he was beaten. However, he still contains his pride and plans to go back to sea. He has accomplished what he had initially set out to do. He regained his pride. Hemingway's use of repetition and contrast helps develop the story and reinforce the central theme of pride. It highlights the sense of pride as the main source of inspiration and determination that fuels the old man's entire experience. Without his pride as a fisherman and his work, the old man would have easily given up. But as the story unfolds, it is the very pride the old man feels in his work and his life that drives him to face the challenges and perils at sea to satisfy his own self-worth as a great fisherman and emerge triumphant in the end..