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The Old Man and the Sea is a relatively short novel by Ernest Hemingway. It was the last novel he ever had published.

The novel starts out with a description of Santiago, the old man who the story is about. The novel takes place in Havana, Cuba. Santiago has gone 84 days without catching a fish. During the first forty days, his long-time friend Manolin was fishing with him. Manolin is a young boy who Santiago taught how to fish. After that, Manolin’s parents forced him to go to a lucky boat where they constantly caught fish. Manolin loves Santiago and visa versa; they are great friends and Manolin takes responsibility in being sure that Santiago eats.

After 84 days of being fish-less Santiago wakes up determined to go far out into the sea to catch the biggest fish of all time. Before he goes, Manolin brings him fresh bait and wishes him good luck. Santiago tells Manolin he feels confident.

Santiago goes out past the docks and deep into the ocean. He is very precise with how he prepares his baits and boat, saying that he rather be exact than lucky. Not long after, he catches a small fish. Not satisfied, he goes out further.

Far out, where he can't see land anymore, he catches an extraordinarily large fish: a marlin. The marlin takes the bait and is hooked, but doesn't show any signs of being hurt. He keeps swimming out, away from the coast. Santiago thinks that the fish will eventually tire, but that's not the case. The fish keeps a steady pace throughout the night. Santiago sees the fish for the first time when he jumps a day after being hooked. He is in awe of his size: 18 feet total.

Santiago respects the marlin and views him as his brother, yet that doesn't change his determination to kill him. After a struggle of three days, the marlin weakens and comes closer to the surface. After a couple tries, Santiago finally harpoons the marlin in the heart.

However, the struggle is far from over. Santiago has been pulled away from Havana for three days, and he still faces the journey back home. Unfortunately for Santiago, he'll be pulling a bloody marlin through shark infested waters.

The Old Man and the Sea is full of symbolism about death, devotion, sacrifice, and determination. The novel is also filled with many religious references, especially at the beginning of the story. For example:
~A fishless desert = The desert Jesus walked through.
~ The boy being with Santiago for forty days = Forty days in the desert.
~Santiago carrying his mast on his shoulder = Jesus carrying the cross.

Santiago has a connection to the sea and finds everything about it feminine and beautiful. Hemingway reveals that his eyes are the color of the sea. The saying“eyes are the window to the soul” would suggest that the sea is a part of Santiago.

In the novel, Santiago doesn't have traditional views about death. Instead of viewing death as something terrifying, he views it as inevitable and, in a way, noble. On his quest to kill the marlin, he says he doesn't mind if it kills him; he finds the marlin so enchanting and regal that he would view it as almost an honor.

After the marlin is dead, he “asks” it how many it has killed. As a fisherman, death is an everyday occurrence and very natural to him. He feels a connection to the marlin since the marlin must have killed many with the spear on his head. Since Santiago has only Manolin as a true friend, he finds solace in comparing himself to marine life. For example, when the marlin is pulling him along, an exhausted bird rests on Santiago’s boat. Santiago sees himself in the bird, since at this point in the book, he is exhausted as well. Santiago talks to the bird like he is talking to himself, telling the bird to take a rest and then to “try again”.

Santiago keeps a positive disposition throughout the book, and that disposition is even stronger towards the end of his struggle. He often says that he will try again, and that he is still able to prove himself. It's evident that he doesn't care what any other fishermen think of him, but one can conclude that he's disappointed with his recent lack of success. The fact that he doesn't give up on the marlin would suggest that he wants to prove to himself that he's still a capable fisherman.

Rating: 9/10

I love the writing style of this book. The short, simple sentences fit perfectly with Santiago’s subconscious. Hemingway is able to pack a lot of action into a relatively small sentence; he doesn't need a lot of words to convey a powerful message. The only reason I am not rating this book 10/10 is because of the ending: I would like to know more about what happens to Santiago when all is said and done. Overall, it's an enjoyable, powerful read.

Check out The Old Man and the Sea at the Newport Beach Public Library.