Illustration of a marlin in the water

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

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Themes: Mentor-Apprentice Relationship

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Another key theme is the mentor-student bond between Manolin and Santiago. The elder has taught the young boy essential skills, such as the art of fishing with expertise and the virtues of living wisely and humbly. Despite this, Santiago finds himself in need of the boy's presence, particularly when he's isolated at sea with the massive marlin. He often expresses, “I wish I had the boy. To help me and to see this.” This theme is movingly encapsulated in the thought that “No one should be alone in their old age.”

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Themes: Material Poverty vs. Spiritual Enrichment

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Themes: Kinship Among Creatures

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