My students and I are about to start reading The Old Man and the Sea, and I’m excited/scared to explore the idea of defeat with them. In the book Santiago fights to bring home the greatest marlin man has ever seen, and although he fails, there is still victory in his return. Even though the sea has beat him down to disillusionment and despair. Even though he’s lost the marlin to the sharks. Even though he returns broken. He still returns. He returns to his little shack and dreams, and I think he’s courageous to return at all.
I think it’d be easier to stay away. Stay away, Santiago. Don’t come back with nothing more than bones to show for your battle. The battle you lost. But he doesn’t. He returns to his little shack on the hill, and he dreams about the lions in Africa. What defines victory better than this?
a scribble of jo 