What are some 5 comparisons or contrasts between the book The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella on the idea of the hero's journey?

The Old Man and the Sea, written in 1952, is Hemingway’s final published novel. It tells the story of Santiago, an aged fisherman who hasn’t caught a fish in over eighty days. W.P. Kinsella’s Shoeless Joe is also a novel about an out-of-luck protagonist. It might be said that The Old Man and the Sea is to fishing what Shoeless Joe is to baseball. Their similarities with respect to the hero’s journey will be discussed here.

First, both protagonists (Santiago and Ray Kinsella) are facing disapproval from their community and family. The parents of Santiago’s apprentice don’t want their son to sail with Santiago (because of his lack of success), and Kinsella’s wife’s brother is also skeptical and disapproving of Ray’s interest in building a baseball field.

Next, both protagonists have accomplices that aid them in their missions. Santiago is joined in his quest by Manolin, and Kinsella is joined (eventually) by J.D. Salinger.

Additionally, both are chasing a dream that represents some deeper underlying yearning. Santiago is chasing a marlin, while what he really craves is dignity as a fisherman. Similarly, Kinsella seeks a relationship with his father.

Next, both are misguided and thwarted. Santiago is mistaken when strapping the marlin to the side of his boat, as it will attract sharks. In a similar way, Kinsella interprets the radio announcer’s voice saying “ease his pain” as referring to Salinger’s pain, when in fact it refers to his father’s. In this way, both protagonists seek ends that are only ancillary to their ultimate journey. When they accomplish their immediate aim, they realize there is more to achieve in their respective journeys.

Finally, both face financial difficulty at the outset of their stories. Santiago is plagued by fruitless fishing endeavors, and Ray Kinsella’s farm faces bankruptcy. Both protagonists, in summary, are at the mercy of nature, and they are thus proven vulnerable as they begin their journeys.