The Old Man and the Sea
- Author: Ernest Hemingway
Summary
Santiago, an aging and long-unlucky Cuban fisherman, has gone eighty-four days without a catch. Despite being deemed “salao,” or the worst form of unlucky, he maintains a close, nurturing relationship with a young apprentice named Manolin, who cares for him deeply even though his parents have forced him to switch to a more prosperous boat. Determined to break his streak, Santiago ventures far out into the Gulf Stream, where he hooks a massive, powerful marlin that pulls his small skiff into the deep ocean.
For three days, the old man engages in an epic, exhausting struggle of endurance and mutual respect with the great fish. He eventually kills it, only to have his triumph cut short as sharks, drawn by the scent of blood, systematically devour the marlin’s flesh during the long journey back to shore. Santiago arrives home defeated, with only the skeleton of the fish, but he has regained his dignity and self-respect, with Manolin promising to fish with him again.
Highlights
- “Why do old men wake so early? Is it to have one longer day?” (Location 181)