| The main character in The Old Man and the Sea | | | | the fish in, albeit with difficulty, and stab it with his |
| is, unsurprisingly, an old man. The old man has a | | | | harpoon. Having strapped the fish to his boat, |
| name of course- Santiago. Santiago is not quite a | | | | Santiago heads home. He thinks about the price |
| model of success as a fisherman, having gone | | | | the marlin would fetch on the market and the |
| about 84 days without catching a herring even. | | | | personal prestige such a catch would virtually |
| His lack of success and enterprise on the water | | | | grant him. Santiago has the mental capacity to |
| does not go without notice. His young apprentice, | | | | conclude that no one is worthy of the tenacious |
| Manolin, is even forbidden by his parents from | | | | fish. |
| fishing with the old man, so that he could work | | | | The trail of blood left behind by the marlin's |
| with fishermen who actually catch fish. Manolin still | | | | wound attracts what appears to Santiago as the |
| keeps in touch with Santiago. On one occasion, | | | | dreaded Mako shark. The old man faces the |
| Santiago reveals that he will go far out into the | | | | daunting prospect of fending of the marauding |
| Gulf to fish, in the hope that his blighted streak will | | | | flesh eaters. He kills the first with his harpoon and |
| end. | | | | sacrifices his weapon in so doing. However, our |
| Santiago sets out alone on his quest. Just as he | | | | inventive main character creates a new harpoon |
| indicated to Mandolin, he took his skiff far out into | | | | and manages to kill a few more. Despite his stellar |
| the Gulf. He casts his lines out into the open | | | | effort, the sharks devour the flesh of the marlin |
| water and waits under the menacing sunshine. By | | | | by nightfall, leaving only its skeleton. The old man |
| noon on the first day, a large fish, which the old | | | | is distraught, but feels that he at least has the |
| man feels is a marlin, takes the bait. His lack of | | | | skeleton to show for his effort. |
| strength and singular presence on the boat render | | | | When an extremely fatigued and disheartened |
| him unable to reel in his quarry. Instead, the marlin | | | | Santiago reaches the shore, he heads for his |
| seems to pull the old man's boat. Things remain | | | | shack rather wearily and fall into a deep sleep. |
| this way for two consecutive days. The old man | | | | The skeleton of the marlin is a source of wonder |
| develops respect and compassion for his quarry, | | | | for tourists and fishermen the next day. Manolin |
| even referring to the marlin as his brother. | | | | was concerned about the old man during his days |
| On the third day, the marlin tires and begins to | | | | absent and is so relieved to find him safe that he |
| circle the boat. The old man, battle weary | | | | cries. The novel wraps up with the old man and |
| throughout the ordeal, manages to take | | | | Manolin promising to fish together again. The old |
| advantage of the weakness of the fish. | | | | man falls asleep again and dreams once again. |
| Summoning all his strength, he manages to haul | | | | |