The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea is Ernest Hemingway’s novella about Santiago, an ageing Cuban fisherman who undertakes a long struggle with a marlin. Far from shore, he must draw on experience, patience, and the limited strength of his body. His regard for the fish complicates any simple opposition between hunter and adversary, while his bond with the boy Manolin connects solitary effort with care and continuity. Restrained language gives practical details a wider resonance. The return home distinguishes the outward result of the struggle from the courage and dignity sustained within it.