TheOldManandtheSeaisthestoryofanepicstrugglebetweenanold,seasonedfishermanandthegreatestcatchofhislife.Foreighty-fourdays,Santiago,anagedCubanfisherman,hassetouttoseaandreturnedempty-handed.Soconspicuouslyunluckyishethattheparentsofhisyoungdevotedapprenticeandfriend,Manolin,haveforcedtheboytoleavetheoldmaninordertofishinamoreprosperousboat.Nevertheless,theboycontinuestocarefortheoldmanuponhisreturneachnight.Hehelpstheoldmantotehisgeartohisramshacklehut,securesfoodforhim,anddiscussesthelatestdevelopmentsinAmericanbaseball,especiallythetrialsoftheoldman’shero,JoeDiMaggio.Santiagoisconfidentthathisunproductivestreakwillsooncometoanend,andheresolvestosailoutfartherthanusualthefollowingday.

　　Ontheeighty-fifthdayofhisunluckystreak,Santiagodoesaspromised,sailinghisskifffarbeyondtheisland’sshallowcoastalwatersandventuringintotheGulfStream.Heprepareshislinesanddropsthem.Atnoon,abigfish,whichheknowsisamarlin,takesthebaitthatSantiagohasplacedonehundredfathomsdeepinthewaters.Theoldmanexpertlyhooksthefish,buthecannotpullitin.Instead,thefishbeginstopulltheboat.

　　Unabletotiethelinefasttotheboatforfearthefishwouldsnapatautline,theoldmanbearsthestrainofthelinewithhisshoulders,back,andhands,readytogiveslackshouldthemarlinmakearun.Thefishpullstheboatallthroughtheday,throughthenight,throughanotherday,andthroughanothernight.Itswimssteadilynorthwestuntilatlastittiresandswimseastwiththecurrent.Theentiretime,Santiagoenduresconstantpainfromthefishingline.Wheneverthefishlunges,leaps,ormakesadashforfreedom,thecordcutshimbadly.Althoughwoundedandweary,theoldmanfeelsadeepempathyandadmirationforthemarlin,hisbrotherinsuffering,strength,andresolve.

　　Onthethirddaythefishtires,andSantiago,sleep-deprived,aching,andnearlydelirious,managestopullthemarlinincloseenoughtokillitwithaharpoonthrust.Deadbesidetheskiff,themarlinisthelargestSantiagohaseverseen.Helashesittohisboat,raisesthesmallmast,andsetssailforhome.WhileSantiagoisexcitedbythepricethatthemarlinwillbringatmarket,heismoreconcernedthatthepeoplewhowilleatthefishareunworthyofitsgreatness.

　　AsSantiagosailsonwiththefish,themarlin’sbloodleavesatrailinthewaterandattractssharks.Thefirsttoattackisagreatmakoshark,whichSantiagomanagestoslaywiththeharpoon.Inthestruggle,theoldmanlosestheharpoonandlengthsofvaluablerope,whichleaveshimvulnerabletoothersharkattacks.Theoldmanfightsoffthesuccessiveviciouspredatorsasbesthecan,stabbingatthemwithacrudespearhemakesbylashingaknifetoanoar,andevenclubbingthemwiththeboat’stiller.Althoughhekillsseveralsharks,moreandmoreappear,andbythetimenightfalls,Santiago’scontinuedfightagainstthescavengersisuseless.Theydevourthemarlin’spreciousmeat,leavingonlyskeleton,head,andtail.Santiagochastiseshimselfforgoing“outtoofar,”andforsacrificinghisgreatandworthyopponent.Hearriveshomebeforedaybreak,stumblesbacktohisshack,andsleepsverydeeply.

　　Thenextmorning,acrowdofamazedfishermengathersaroundtheskeletalcarcassofthefish,whichisstilllashedtotheboat.Knowingnothingoftheoldman’sstru