By Katie D.

In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, an old man named Santiago tries his luck out on the sea once again. Throughout the story, Santiago is faced with many psychological and physical challenges that shape the plot of the story and challenge Santiago’s character. He struggles with fatigue, lack of food, and coping with his thoughts of loneliness and aging.

Throughout the novella, Santiago struggles with fatigue. His hand is cramping, he is weak, and he is tired. “I wish I could show him what sort of man I am. But then he would see the cramped hand” (64). This quote shows that Santiago’s weariness has a direct effect on his ability to fish. He is trying with all his might to reel in the marlin, but his hand and the rest of his body will not cooperate. He also is unable to fight off the sharks that come to eat his prized catch. With each shark attack, Santiago becomes more and more beaten. Some fisherman would decide to give in if they were in as much pain as Santiago, but he is devoted to the sea. Through all his troubles, he continues to pursue the marlin.

Another one of Santiago’s troubles is his lack of food. Towards the beginning of his journey, he thinks, “And I do not know whether the sun will rot or dry what is left, so I had better eat it all although I am not hungry. The fish is calm and steady. I will eat it all and then I will be ready” (59). Unfortunately, the old man didn’t know that most of his treacherous journey was ahead of him. He decides to stay with the fish, and soon regrets eating all of his food. He has to use some of the little energy he has to catch a dolphin and eat the fish in its stomach. This tires Santiago even more, and adds another thing to think about. With this on his mind, it is harder to reel in the marlin and concentrate on getting home safely.

Another of Santiago’s struggles is that he must try to keep his own thoughts of aging and loneliness away from himself. It is clear that Santiago is lonely, as he often repeats the words, “I wish I had the boy” (45). He talks to himself in the boat, and occasionally lets his mind wander to some of his past adventures. Santiago also knows that he is aging, and he is no longer the sharp fisherman he once was. Still, he must endure and keep these thoughts away if he wants a successful journey. “Don’t think, old man, he said to himself. Rest gently now against the wood and think of nothing” (66). This quote shows that the old man is trying to focus his thoughts on fishing, and nothing else.

Santiago is able to work through fatigue, lack of food, and thoughts of loneliness and aging. However, all three affect him. Fatigue eventually causes him to surrender the marlin to the sharks, and he arrives home with only a skeleton. His lack of food distracts him, and adds to his frustration. He is able to work through his psychological struggles, but when he returns to his hut, he begins to cry. Although his struggles diminished him, he is not defeated. He lost the fish, but he still has the boy, and a ray of hope for tomorrow.