Woke Uni warns students Hemingway's 'Old Man and the Sea' contains graphic FISHING scenes
A classic novel by Ernest Hemingway has become the latest victim of the woke brigade as a university has warned its students about "graphic fishing scenes" in the book.
'The Old Man And The Sea' is the story of a man's heroic struggle against the elements and is often touted as a metaphor for life itself. The 1952 classic has inspired several TV and film adaptations, all of which have been awarded U and PG certificates, making it suitable for children. However, the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland -- an area known for its sprawling fishing industry -- has issued a content warning to its History and Literature students for the novel. The note was uncovered in documents obtained by the Daily Mail under Freedom of Information laws.
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"This is nonsense," Mary Dearborn, the author of 'Ernest Hemingway, A Biography' told the newspaper. "It blows my mind to think students might be encouraged to steer clear of the book. The world is a violent place and it is counterproductive to pretend otherwise. Much of the violence in the story is rooted in the natural world. It is the law of nature." Meanwhile, Jeremy Black, emeritus professor of history at the University of Exeter, said it was "particularly stupid" considering the "dependency of the economy of the Highlands and Islands on industries such as fishing and farming." He added, "Many great works of literature have included references to farming, fishing, whaling, or hunting. Is the university seriously suggesting all this literature is ringed with warnings?"
'The Old Man And The Sea' is the story of an aging fisherman named Santiago, who gets hold of an 18ft marlin while sailing in his skiff on the coast of Cuba. Due to the size of the giant fish, he is unable to tie it to the back of the tiny vessel or pull it on board, and so he proceeds to hold the line for several days and nights. Santiago feels compassion for the animal despite suffering intense physical pain. He reluctantly kills the fish after it begins to circle his craft, but is then forced to fight off several sharks looking to feast on the corpse. The fisherman eventually rebukes himself for taking the marlin's life and tells the sharks that they have killed his dreams before reaching the shore. Many believe Santiago's battle with elements of nature mirrors Hemingway's own experiences, while others perceive the story of bloodshed, endurance, and sacrifice as a metaphor for Christianity.
Nonetheless, the University of Highlands and Islands, which constitutes 13 research institutions and colleges, has issued a content warning for several such classics. Some of these include Homer’s 'The Iliad', written in the 8th Century BC, and 'Beowulf', an English poem from 1025 AD, with warnings that they contain "scenes of violent close combat." Meanwhile, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is said to contain "violent murder and cruelty", and Shakespeare's classics 'Hamlet' and 'Romeo And Juliet' allegedly contain scenes of "stabbing, poison, and suicide." A University spokesman defended the warning notes, saying they "enable students to make informed choices," the Daily Mail reported.