Some people will go far to get what they want, but how many people would be willing to die to create their own destiny? Deciding the meaning of life with sincerity and passion is at the heart of existentialism. This philosophy is integral to Hemingway's writings as well as his personal life. Paradigms of existentialism appear often in Hemingway's book, The Old Man and the Sea, particularly when Santiago, the old man, is determined to shoot down the large marlin he is pursuing, wants to prove to Manolin how he is a strange old man and fights against brutal sharks when there is little chance of success. The Old Man and the Sea focuses its plot primarily on Santiago's fight against the marlin. Existentialism rears its ugly head when Santiago chooses to pursue the marlin, staying with it to the end, and fighting tooth and nail in the end. “My choice was to go there to find him beyond all men,” is how Santiago explains his actions to challenge the fish (Hemingway 50). He talks about how he was born to be a fisherman and that by chasing marlin he will give his life the meaning of existence. Santiago also insists on staying with the fishes until one of them dies, which illustrates his drive to achieve his goals in life. He endures obstacles such as nausea, cramps, and lack of sleep because he is unwilling to give up and abandon his destiny. When it comes to the final fight, Santiago pits all his remaining pain, strength and pride against the fish in order to bring it down. Desperation begins to set in when Santiago struggles to catch the marlin, but he overcomes it with all the willpower he has. He knows that it is up to him to create this important moment in his life...... middle of paper...... Biography. DVD “Existentialism”. Philosophy - AllAboutPhilosophy.org. Internet. September 16, 2011..Hemingway, Ernest. “Indian camp, hills like white elephants.” The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. New York: Scribner's, 1987. Print. Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Macmillan, 1986. Print. “The Influence of Ernest Hemingway – Introduction”. Literary criticism of the 20th century. Ed.Thomas J. Schoenberg Lawrence J. Trudeau. Flight. 162. Gale Cengage, 2005. eNotes.com. September 16, 2011. “University of Delaware: ERNEST HEMINGWAY IN HIS TIME.” University of Delaware Library. Special Collections, December 21, 2010. Web. September 16. 2011. .