Introduction: a brief overview Ernest Hemingway is known as a legendary figure of the American culture, because he consistently communicated the American values and aspects of self-image in his literary works. In order to discuss Hemingway’s depiction of the American values and beliefs, it will be necessary to use three works: The Old Man and the Sea , a novella by Hemingway, “Papa’s Ghost”, an article by Gary Buslik, in which the author describes his experience of visiting “Hemingway’s” famous place, and “Ernest Hemingway”, a biographical inquiry into the life of the great writer. The present paper argues that Hemingway’s idea of “the true-born American” draws a portrait of a self-made man who has freedom of choice, rises from poverty through hard work and believes only in himself without relying on or hoping for the support of the others or the government. Summary of the main points of the article and the novella The Old Man and the Sea narrate about the old fisherman Santiago, who has had as many as eighty-four unlucky days and seeks desperately to catch a large fish. His little friend Manolin, who had fished with Santiago before, is forced by his parents to leave the old man because of their superstitions associated with the old man’s regular failures over the months. Therefore, Santiago ventures to the Gulf alone and shortly after finds out that a huge marlin takes his bait. After struggling with the fish for two days, Santiago loses it as a result of the shark attack. However, after having a long rest at home, Santiago reveals no despair to Manolin, instead stating his intention to try again later. In “Papa’s Ghost”, G.Buslik narrates about his journey to Cuba and his excursion around the favorite places of Ernest Hemingway. In particular, he visits cafes and bars where Hemingway used to stay for hours writing his literary works, and conducts an interview with Gregorio Fuentes, an acquaintance of the great writer, believed to become a Santiago’s. Ideal of freedom and non-commitment The first intrinsic characteristic of the American masculinity, or the “true American man”, according to Hemingway’s novella, is freedom, interpreted as the absence of obligations and responsibilities except for those directly associated with individual survival. The protagonist of The Old Man and the Sea doesn’t seem committed to anyone except for himself, as he has no family and his social status imposes on him not so many obligations, as long as he is a fisherman. The only character the old man closely interacts with is the boy named Manolin, who, as he believes, should be reared and brought up by his parents, but not him: “If you were my boy I’d take you out and gamble,” he said.” But you are your father’s and your mother’s and you are in the lucky boat. “( Hemingway, p.2). The value of freedom is also reflected in “Papa’s Ghost” which demonstrates that Hemingway easily left America with its noisy cities for Cuba, where simple entertainments like fishing gained a new value: “Two years later he bought his own boat, Pilar , and over the next several years popped over to the big island when the spirit moved him […]” (Buslik, p.103). As one can assume, the famous writer himself was not actually willing to carry the burden of social obligations li