bull"fighting"

I wanted to talk to Joe Riordan about bullfighting before I posted anything because he knows a lot about it. He was saying that many people see bullfighting as symbolic of the crucifixion. It also has to do with our lives (meaning the idealistic life of each person). At the beginning of the bullfight, the bull does not know the distinction between the man and the cloth he is waving. But as the fight continues, the bull is gradually learning and becoming more aware that the man is a distinct creature from the cloth and that the person is the one who the bull should go after. This is symbolic of the lives of people because as we grow and live, we learn more about ourselves and basically how the world works. As we get older and upon nearing our death, supposedly we will have figured things out. So once we finally reach the point of realization, it will be time for us to die. This is the same for the bull. Once he finally realizes exactly what is going on, it is too late and he will be killed soon after by the matador.

Joe also asserted that the bull is seen as a Christ figure because of its noble death. This interpretation is harder for me to understand though and I don't quite remember it as well. It has to do with the fact that it is not actually a bull"fight" at all. The bull is always destined to die. Thus, even if the man doesn't "win" by killing the bull himself (I really thought Manuel was going to get killed by the bull in the story...he actually may have. I know the ending is totally unclear.), the bull still MUST be killed at the end. So I guess the idea that this story was called the undefeated makes a lot of sense because the bull is always the defeated, while man is always undefeated. Man always wins (even if he is injured or dies in the process I suppose).

I just looked up the name Manuel; it means "God in us". This is curious and it makes me wonder 1. whether Hemingway knew this? 2. is Manuel supposed to represent God or a God-like figure? 3. does this problematize the crucifixion theory?...