The Old Man and the Sea

Overview & Context

• Author: Ernest Hemingway

• Published: 1952 (first in Life magazine, then as a book)

• Genre: Novella, Parable, Literary Fiction

• Setting: A small fishing village near Havana, Cuba, and the waters of the Gulf Stream in the 1940s.

• Point of View: Third-person omniscient, though it closely follows the thoughts and feelings of Santiago (often using free indirect discourse).

Plot Summary

1. Exposition: The story introduces Santiago, an old, experienced fisherman who is suffering a streak of bad luck. He has gone 84 days without catching a fish, a state known as salao. His young, devoted apprentice, Manolin, has been forced by his parents to work on a "luckier" boat, but he still helps Santiago prepare his skiff and gets him food.

2. Rising Action: On the 85th day, Santiago rows his skiff far out into the Gulf Stream, determined to break his streak. He hooks a fish so large it begins to pull his boat. The fish is a giant marlin. For two days and two nights, Santiago is locked in a grueling battle of endurance, holding the line as the great fish pulls him farther from shore. He develops a deep respect and spiritual connection to the marlin, calling it his "brother."

3. Climax: On the third day, the exhausted marlin begins to circle. Santiago, though wounded, dehydrated, and exhausted himself, manages to pull the fish close enough to kill it with his harpoon. The marlin is the largest he has ever seen—longer than his boat. He lashes it to the side of his skiff and begins the long sail home.

4. Falling Action: The marlin's blood trail attracts sharks. Santiago fights them off fiercely, first with his harpoon (which he loses) and then with a knife lashed to an oar. Despite his efforts, successive waves of sharks—first a Mako, then groups of shovel-nosed sharks—attack the carcass, stripping it of its flesh. Santiago is left with only the marlin's massive skeleton, head, and tail.

5. Resolution: Santiago arrives back in his village before dawn, utterly defeated physically. He stumbles back to his shack, carrying his mast (like a cross), and collapses into a deep sleep. The next morning, the other fishermen are awestruck by the sheer size of the marlin's skeleton. Manolin finds Santiago and, weeping, recommits to fishing with him, saying he still has much to learn. Santiago wakes up and dreams of the lions on the beach in Africa.

Characters

• Santiago: The protagonist. A proud, stoic, and skilled old fisherman. He embodies the Hemingway "Code Hero," displaying "grace under pressure." He is defined by his endurance, his respect for nature, and his unyielding spirit. His struggle is often read as a Christ-like allegory.

• Manolin: Santiago's young apprentice. He is fiercely loyal to Santiago, who taught him to fish. Manolin represents youth, hope, and the next generation that will carry on Santiago's legacy and code. He is the old man's source of human connection and hope.

• The Marlin: Santiago's "opponent." It is portrayed as a noble, beautiful, and powerful creature, a worthy adversary. Santiago sees the fish as his equal and "brother," blurring the line between hunter and hunted.

• The Sharks: The antagonists. They are portrayed as mindless, brutal scavengers that represent the destructive, indifferent forces of the universe. They undo Santiago's great achievement, but they cannot destroy his spirit.

• Joe DiMaggio: The great baseball player. Though never seen, he is a powerful symbol for Santiago. He represents perseverance and success in the face of pain (DiMaggio played with a bone spur), inspiring the old man during his struggle.

Key Themes

• Endurance & Perseverance: This is the novel's central theme. Santiago endures immense physical and emotional pain, but he never gives up. The story's most famous line encapsulates this: "A man can be destroyed but not defeated."

• Pride (Orgullo): Santiago’s pride is what drives him to go "too far out." It's not a sin but a vital part of his identity, giving him the strength to prove his worth as a fisherman and a man.

• Man and the Natural World: Santiago feels a deep, spiritual connection to the sea (which he calls la mar, a feminine form) and its creatures. He respects the marlin as a brother, not just a commodity. The story explores a relationship of respect and equality with nature, rather than domination.

• Youth and Old Age: The bond between Santiago (experience, endurance) and Manolin (youth, loyalty) is crucial. Manolin ensures that Santiago's knowledge will not die with him and provides the old man with the hope and motivation to continue.

• Suffering as a Test: The novella is full of Christian allegory. Santiago's suffering (the cuts on his hands like stigmata, his stumbling up the hill with the mast like Christ carrying the cross) is portrayed as a test of his character, leading to a form of spiritual victory even in material defeat.

Major Symbols

• The Marlin: Represents the ideal opponent, the beauty and nobility of nature, and the goal of Santiago's quest.

• The Sharks: Symbolize the destructive and indifferent forces of the world that can tear down achievements. They can also be seen as the critics who tear apart a work of art (a common interpretation related to Hemingway's own career).

• The Skeleton: The proof of the marlin's existence and the epic struggle. It represents Santiago's material loss but also his spiritual victory. The tourists who mistake it for a shark's skeleton show the world's inability to understand his trial.

• Lions on the Beach: Santiago's recurring dream from his youth in Africa. They symbolize his lost youth, strength, and innocence. They also represent a peaceful, harmonious vision of nature, free from the kill-or-be-killed struggle of his current life.

• Santiago's Eyes: Described as "the same color as the sea" and "cheerful and undefeated." They symbolize his inner spirit, which remains young and alive despite his aging, worn-out body.

Literary Style & Elements

• Hemingway's "Iceberg Theory": The prose style is simple, direct, and sparse. Hemingway believed the true meaning and power of a story (the "iceberg") should lie beneath the surface of the simple words and actions.

• The "Code Hero": Santiago is a prime example of the Hemingway Code Hero. He lives by a strict code of conduct: he faces danger and adversity with stoic dignity, skill, and "grace under pressure."

• Allegory: The entire story functions as an allegory for the human condition—a struggle against indifferent forces that ultimately ends in loss (death), but where dignity and meaning are found in the way one conducts the struggle.

• Polysyndeton: Hemingway frequently uses the word "and" to connect a string of simple clauses (e.g., "He sailed on and the shark bit... and the line flew... and he saw..."). This creates a rhythmic, flowing, almost biblical cadence that adds gravity to the simple actions.

Key Quotes

1. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated."

   • (Santiago's reflection after the sharks have attacked, encapsulating the central theme of the novel.)

2. "Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends."

   • (Shows Santiago's complex relationship with the marlin—one of respect and love, but also of a hunter's professional necessity.)

3. "But man is not made for defeat... A man can be destroyed but not defeated."

   • (The full quote, which serves as the novel's core philosophy.)

4. "Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated."

   • (The opening description of Santiago, establishing his indomitable inner spirit.)

5. "I wish I could feed the fish, he thought. He is my brother. But I must kill him."

   • (Again, highlights the theme of man's relationship with nature, one of both kinship and conflict.)

6. "He was sailing on a large ship that sailed north... and he saw the lions on the beach."

   • (A variation of the final line, referring to his dream of peace, youth, and natural harmony.)