Compare the old man and the fish in The Old Man and the Sea.
- print Print
- list Cite
Expert Answers

calendarEducator since 2018
write42 answers
starTop subject is Literature
The fish is both a competitor and a companion for the old man, Santiago. The old man, a skilled and knowledgeable fisherman, has been competing all of his life. As a young man, he competed in a twenty-four-hour arm-wrestling match against the “strongest man on the docks.” Blood dripping down both of their arms, the men were evenly matched until the very end, when Santiago exerted a final effort that defeated his competitor. Similarly, when he hooks the fish, he quickly realizes that this fish is like no other fish he has seen; it too is a worthy competitor that will take all of his effort, experience, strength, and knowledge in order to defeat. Even without seeing the fish, he imagines the powerful fins, the tail, and even the huge, all-seeing eyes. Interestingly, the old man’s shoulders and eyes are also described as still powerful and not weakened by age. The toll of killing this fish is brutal: during the three days spent battling this fish, the old man has had little food,...
(The entire section contains 6 answers and 984 words.)
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Related Questions
- In The Old Man and the Sea how does the old man feel about the fish?
- 2 Educator Answers
- Describe the relationship between the old man and the fish in The Old Man and the Sea.
- 3 Educator Answers
- Please summarize Santiago's plan for harpooning the fish in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and...
- 1 Educator Answer
- Why does the old man in the book The Old Man and the Sea hate jelly fish?
- 1 Educator Answer
- Hemingway said about symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea: "There isn't any symbolism. The sea...
- 6 Educator Answers

calendarEducator since 2015
write9,157 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics

calendarEducator since 2008
write15,968 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences

calendarEducator since 2010
write4,539 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History

calendarEducator since 2006
write2,050 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History

calendarEducator since 2006
write1,918 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Science