The Old Man and the Sea
The Old Man and the Sea recounts an epic battle between an old,experienced fisherman and a giant marlin said to be the largest catch of his life.It opens by explaining that the fisherman,who is named Santiago,has gone 84 days without catching any fish at all (although a comment made at some point in the book reveals that he had previously gone 87 days without catching one).He is apparently so unlucky that his young apprentice,Manolin,has been forbidden by his parents to sail with the old man and been ordered to fish with more successful fishermen.Still dedicated to the old man,however,the boy visits Santiago's shack each night,hauling back his fishing gear,feeding him and discussing American baseball — most notably Santiago's idol,Joe DiMaggio.Santiago tells Manolin that on the next day,he will venture far out into the Gulf to fish,confident that his unlucky streak is near its end.
Sons and Lovers
a woman of character and refinement goes into the lower class,and has no satisfaction in her own life.She has had a passion for her husband,so her children are born of passion,and have heaps of vitality.But as her sons grow up she selects them as lovers — first the eldest,then the second.These sons are urged into life by their reciprocal love of their mother — urged on and on.But when they come to manhood,they can't love,because their mother is the strongest power in their lives,and holds them.It's rather like Goethe and his mother and Frau von Stein and Christiana — As soon as the young men come into contact with women,there's a split.William gives his sex to a fribble,and his mother holds his soul.But the split kills him,because he doesn't know where he is.The next son gets a woman who fights for his soul — fights his mother.The son loves his mother — all the sons hate and are jealous of the father.The battle goes on between the mother and the girl,with the son as object.The mother gradually proves stronger,because of the ties of blood.The son decides to leave his soul in his mother's hands,and,like his elder brother go for passion.He gets passion.Then the split begins to tell again.But,almost unconsciously,the mother realises what is the matter,and begins to die.The son casts off his mistress,attends to his mother dying.He is left in the end naked of everything,with the drift towards death
