"THE ICEBERG PRINCIPLE" IN THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Abstract

"The Old Man and the Sea" is the best example of Hemingway's use of the "iceberg" principle. He uses simple and natural language to tell the story, making it direct and clear with specific details and uncomplicated syntax. The author rarely expresses his own feelings directly and makes no commentary or explanation. On the contrary, he tries to tell and describe things objectively and harmoniously and combine his feelings with natural narrative and description. Hemingway himself stated that at the time he wrote the story, he left seven-eighths of the story beneath the surface for the reader to discover the hidden meaning himself. He does not give long descriptions of the city and culture; he uses short images and allusions that line up into one picture, giving a clear sense and sense of Cuban culture, social circumstances, and even the economy.