Old Man and The Sea

Life’s struggles happen daily, from a common loss of money to a loss of a family member. The worst part is that they cannot be avoided, and we must get through them. What we do with these struggles is key, and we must defy the odds to even try to do good. This is what happens with Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea, who throughout the book he overcomes many obstacles, and through the melancholy and pessimistic view of Santiago, you find a peaceful and majestic setting and storyline in The Old Man and the Sea.

During the beginning of the story, the conflict is set. When the Old Man begins again, “He had gone eighty-four days (now) without taking a fish.”(9) This struggle is constant through the story, and even begins another one with his young friend, Manolin. After that long, Manolin’s parents decided that he fish with fisherman who caught everyday, rather than with the old Santiago. Santiago regularly speaks of having Manolin with him, and this keeps the old man thinking and wishing.

During the worst parts of the story, Santiago begins to think he will not survive the excursion out to sea. He even says to himself “No one should be alone in their old age.”(48) This is another struggle, as Santiago is an old fisherman who has no family, no friends, other than his young friend Manolin. He still, however, fights on with the Marlin and stays determined to catch the fish itself, even until death.

As he begins to reel the fish in, Santiago begins to speak of it being a brother to him, and his equal. He then says that “(he has) never seen a greater or more beautiful or a calmer or more noble thing than you brother.” (92) Here, he begins to rethink his fishing ways, and wondering if what he is doing is wrong, and whether or not he should let the Marlin go, or keep it and stay determined and bring it back to the village.

As the Old Man arrives back with just the Marlin’s skeleton, Manolin brings the Old Man into an inn and nourishes him after he collapsed on the dock. He then wakes up to see Manolin giving him coffee and talks about the Marlin. Santiago then says that “Luck is a thing that comes in many forms and who can recognize her?” (117) All the Old Man is left with is a skeleton, yet he is happy that he caught the fish, and continues to sleep, dreaming about sea lions playing on the beach. This gives a sense that we take many things for granted in our lives, and should appreciate the little things.

The Old Man has faced several struggles, but overcame them in a sense. He caught the fish, but only has a skeleton. He is also still as poor, but his determination and courage to catch such a fish provided a good story, even after five days of fishing. Even though Manolin did not come back with the Marlin as a whole, he is content with his catch and to him, that is all that matters in his eyes.