Question Details

“A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. Which of the following texts glorifies this as its predominant theme?

Options

A

The old man and the sea

B

War and peace

C

A farewell to arms

D

For whom the bell tolls

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option A

The old man and the sea

Solution :

The correct option is The old man and the sea.

Detailed Explanation:
The iconic quote, "A man can be destroyed but not defeated," serves as the central thematic foundation of Ernest Hemingway's Nobel Prize-winning novella, The Old Man and the Sea (1952).

Here is a breakdown of why this theme is glorified in the story:
1. Santiago's Epic Struggle: The protagonist of the novella is Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish. On the eighty-fifth day, he hooks a gigantic marlin. The battle that ensues is physically punishing and mentally exhausting, pushing Santiago to the absolute limits of human endurance.
2. Destruction vs. Defeat: Santiago ultimately succeeds in killing the marlin, but as he sails back to shore, sharks repeatedly attack his boat and devour the carcass. When Santiago arrives back at the harbor, only the giant skeleton of the marlin remains. While Santiago is physically ruined, exhausted, and empty-handed (he is "destroyed"), his spirit, dignity, and determination remain completely unbroken (he is "not defeated").
3. The Triumph of the Human Spirit: Hemingway uses this narrative to illustrate that while external circumstances or nature can destroy a person's physical body or material possessions, they cannot conquer a person's resolve, courage, and moral victory.

Context of the other options:
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is an epic novel that explores Russian society during the Napoleonic era.
A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls are also works by Ernest Hemingway, but they focus primarily on the cynicism, tragedy, love, and loss associated with war (World War I and the Spanish Civil War, respectively).

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