Overview
The main characters in The Old Man and the Sea are Santiago, Manolin, and the marlin.
- Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, isn’t daunted by his recent bad luck. He catches an enormous marlin and struggles for several days to bring it to shore.
- Manolin, Santiago’s former apprentice, was forced to leave Santiago when his father demanded he work for a luckier fisherman. He continues to bring Santiago food and bait and plans to fish with him again at the end.
- The marlin, Santiago’s adversary and “brother,” is the largest marlin Santiago has ever seen.
Characters Discussed
Santiago
Santiago (sahn-tee-AH-goh), an old Cuban fisherman, is the protagonist. He is a simple man who loves and respects the sea and all the life within it. On his search for the great marlin, his young friend Manolin fishes with him for forty days, but then Santiago fishes alone among the elements. After eighty-four days of fishing without a catch, the old man’s patience is rewarded. He hooks a huge marlin but then must engage in an exhausting three-day struggle with it. In his battle with the marlin, Santiago begins to identify with the fish, feeling a brotherhood with it and almost a sense of guilt about the idea of killing it. This feeling of solidarity and interdependence between the old man and the marlin pervades the action of the story. The old man’s heroic individualism and his love for his fellow creatures is evident throughout. After finally harpooning it, he attaches the marlin to the bow and stern of his boat, but sharks begin to devour his catch. Santiago’s next battle, with the sharks, proves impossible to win, and Santiago reaches shore with only a skeleton, worthless except as a symbol of his victory. In his struggle with the giant marlin, Santiago pushes himself to the limits of his physical and mental endurance. A man with native intelligence and a strong will to survive, Santiago bears tragedy with great humility and dignity.
Manolin
Manolin (mahn-oh-LEEN) is a young Cuban boy whom Santiago teaches to fish. He becomes Santiago’s fishing partner and fishes with the old man until the young man’s father forbids it. He becomes Santiago’s closest and most devoted friend, and Santiago becomes the boy’s substitute father. Manolin is so devoted to the old man that he begs and steals so that the old man does not go hungry; he also finds fresh bait for Santiago. In the time they spend together, Santiago and the boy talk at length about fishing, hunting, American baseball, and one of the old man’s heroes, Joe DiMaggio, the great Yankee outfielder. In his discussion of DiMaggio, Santiago wishes to teach Manolin about physical and psychological endurance, about being a “team player,” and about being a champion.
The Marlin
The marlin is an eighteen-foot fish weighing more than a thousand pounds, the largest ever caught in the Gulf Stream. Santiago views the marlin as a mixture of incredible beauty and deadly violence. He and the marlin are equal partners in the battle of human against nature. They both emerge as heroes.
Martin
Martin (mahr-TEEN) is the owner of the Terrace. He gives food to Manolin to give to Santiago.
Pedrico
Pedrico (peh-DREE-koh) is a fisherman to whom Santiago gives the marlin’s head, for use in his fish traps.
Rogelio
Rogelio (rroh-HEH-lee-oh) is a young boy who once helped Santiago with his fish nets.
Characters
In this novella, the number of characters is quite limited. The entire story revolves around Santiago, and it is through his perspective that the narrative world comes to life. Santiago’s character is straightforward and clearly defined, as vivid and present as the sea itself. His personality is depicted through his sharp, clear, “cheerful,” and “undefeated” eyes, which are “the same color as the sea.” Numerous memorable descriptions of Santiago’s character exist, such as this one: “He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride.” Beyond his simplicity, in the most positive sense, and his dignity and humility, Santiago possesses specific physical skills and knowledge as a fisherman. He also demonstrates discipline, determination, strength, and endurance. Additionally, although not all critics have fully grasped this aspect, he has a deep spirituality that is evident in ways beyond the obvious Christ-figure symbolism that Hemingway uses. For instance, when Santiago repeatedly says his prayers, he also mentions, “I am not religious,” even as he continues to pray. This does not mean he does not value his prayers, as some critics have suggested, but rather that he is a ritual-centered Catholic believer; in other words, he may not be “religious,” but he is devout.
Although Manolin is the only other significant character (and a minor one in terms of narrative presence), he is essential to the mentor-apprentice dynamic. Reflecting on the novel, Manolin appears to be more present than he actually is; this is because he is always in Santiago’s thoughts, and in the deepest sense, he is Santiago’s son and heir, inheriting Santiago’s wisdom, knowledge, and values. A few other characters appear symbolically through Santiago’s consciousness—most notably Joe DiMaggio, who serves as a kind of role model for Santiago, playing baseball with great skill and courage despite his suffering and pain. Finally, there are the uncomprehending tourists on the last two pages of the novel, a man and a woman who mistake the skeletal remains of the noble marlin for a malignant shark. This serves to underscore Hemingway’s point that the ignorant, uninitiated observer is prone to confusing good and evil, reducing tragedy and nobility to triviality and banality.
Expert Q&A
Did Santiago die in The Old Man and the Sea?
No, Santiago, the titular old man in The Old Man and the Sea, does not die in the story. At the end of the story, he falls asleep and is "dreaming about the lions."
How does Hemingway describe Santiago’s eyes in The Old Man and the Sea?
Hemingway describes Santiago’s eyes by writing that everything about Santiago was old except his eyes, which are “the same color as the sea and ... cheerful and undefeated.”
Why was Santiago named El Campeon in The Old Man and the Sea?
Who is Santiago's hero in The Old Man and the Sea?
Santiago's hero is the baseball star Joe DiMaggio.
In The Old Man and the Sea, how are the characters revealed to the reader?
Characters in The Old Man and the Sea are revealed through physical descriptions, actions, thoughts, and interactions with others. Hemingway uses an omniscient narrator to describe Santiago's appearance and inner thoughts, particularly during his struggle with the marlin. Santiago's monologues at sea further reveal his character. The reactions of other characters, like the boy's admiration, also contribute to understanding Santiago's personality and the respect he commands.
What is the size of the fish in The Old Man and the Sea?
In The Old Man and the Sea, the fish is eighteen feet long, at least two to three feet longer than the typical skiff (a small, shallow, flat-bottomed rowboat).
Is Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea a tragic, Anglo-Saxon epic, or code hero?
Santiago is portrayed as a Hemingway code hero, characterized by honor, courage, and endurance in a chaotic world. He is a free-willed individual who persists despite hardship, similar to his idol Joe DiMaggio. Santiago shows grace under pressure, enduring physical pain and loss while maintaining hope and confidence. Facing death with courage, he embodies the idea that a man can be destroyed but not defeated, ultimately returning with the fish's skeleton as proof of his struggle.
Why doesn't Santiago despair when he realizes he's beaten in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea?
Santiago does not despair because he gains contentment from demonstrating his skill and perseverance, despite losing the fish to sharks. He recognizes his strength and ability to catch the marlin, reaffirming his identity as a capable fisherman. His return home symbolizes a journey back to familiarity and self-confidence. Santiago's pride in his effort and the knowledge that his boat remains undamaged contribute to his sense of satisfaction, rather than defeat.
What is Santiago's role in The Old Man and the Sea? How do villagers view him?
Santiago is the protagonist in The Old Man and the Sea, an experienced fisherman who has not caught a fish in eighty-four days, leading most villagers to view him as unlucky or "salao." Despite this, they do not harbor ill will towards him. Santiago lives modestly and seeks to prove his worth by catching a large marlin. Manolin, a young boy, deeply respects and loves Santiago, considering him a mentor despite his parents' disapproval.
How are Santiago's negative qualities emphasized at the start of the book?
Santiago's negative qualities are emphasized through the perception of others, particularly his supposed "bad luck" in fishing, described as being "salao," the worst form of unlucky. This is portrayed through the villagers' beliefs and the boy's parents' decision to remove him from Santiago's boat. Hemingway further illustrates negativity with imagery, such as the patched sail representing "permanent defeat." Despite this, Santiago's perseverance underscores his true character and sets up his later heroism.
What does the old man have on his neck in The Old Man and the Sea?
In The Old Man and the Sea, the old man, Santiago, has "deep wrinkles in the back of his neck," highlighting his age and the physical toll of his long career as a fisherman. The description includes brown blotches from sun exposure and scars on his hands from handling heavy fish. Despite his weathered appearance, Santiago's eyes remain "cheerful and undefeated," symbolizing his resilient spirit.
In The Old Man and the Sea, how is the great marlin described and humanized?
In The Old Man and the Sea, the great marlin is described as if it embodied human strength and intelligence. For example, the old man describes the fish as having a fight with “no panic in it.” The contrast between the descriptions of the marlin's strength and the old man’s weary body suggests that the old man wishes he possessed the same characteristics as the fish.
What does the quote suggest about Santiago's character?
"Then he will turn and swallow it, he thought. He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen."
The quote highlights Santiago's cautious optimism and superstitious nature. Despite his eagerness for the marlin to swallow the hook, Santiago refrains from speaking his hopes aloud to avoid jinxing his chance. This reflects his experience as a fisherman and awareness of past misfortunes. Santiago's internal optimism contrasts with his external caution, showing his deep connection with nature and his understanding of the delicate balance between hope and reality.
Physical description of Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea
Santiago, the protagonist of The Old Man and the Sea, is an old, weathered Cuban fisherman with deep wrinkles and blotchy skin from a lifetime of exposure to the sun. His eyes are described as blue and undefeated, revealing his enduring spirit despite his aged and worn appearance.
What does each character contribute to their relationship in The Old Man and the Sea?
In their relationship, Santiago provides wisdom and resilience, while Manolin offers youthful innocence and unwavering support. Santiago, though unsentimental, occasionally shows affection and shares his passion for baseball with Manolin, symbolizing their bond. Manolin, despite his parents' disapproval, remains devoted, providing food and companionship. Santiago teaches Manolin about heroism and integrity, and some interpretations liken their relationship to that of Christ and a disciple, emphasizing the depth of their connection.
How does the author characterize the characters in The Old Man and the Sea?
The author characterizes Santiago through both direct and indirect means. Directly, Santiago is depicted as an aging, experienced fisherman who has fallen on hard times, deemed "unlucky" by others. Indirectly, his determination and resilience are evident through his actions and thoughts, such as his admiration for Joe DiMaggio and his resolve to restore his reputation. Despite setbacks, Santiago remains hopeful and eager to continue fishing, highlighting his perseverance and inner strength.
Compare the Old Man and the fish in Old Man and the Sea.
In "The Old Man and the Sea," Santiago, the old fisherman, and the marlin he battles are portrayed as both competitors and companions. Both are depicted as powerful, stubborn, and noble beings fighting for survival. Santiago respects the marlin, seeing it as a worthy opponent and even a "brother," highlighting their shared connection to the sea. Their struggle is intense and exhausting, symbolizing Santiago's quest for redemption and the marlin's fight for freedom.
Santiago's representation in "The Old Man and the Sea" as either a Christ-like figure or a real-life character
Santiago in "The Old Man and the Sea" can be seen as both a Christ-like figure and a real-life character. His suffering, endurance, and humility mirror Christ-like qualities, while his realistic struggles as an old fisherman ground him in reality. This dual representation enhances the depth of his character, blending symbolic and tangible elements.
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