Santiago is an old fisherman who lives alone after his wife passed away. He hasn't caught a fish in 84 days and is seen as unlucky. He catches a giant marlin but feels a sense of brotherhood with it during their long fight. Though he must kill the marlin, Santiago comes to respect its will and endurance. Santiago also admires baseball player Joe DiMaggio for his similar determination to succeed through skill and perseverance rather than physical strength. In his dreams, Santiago envisions young lions, representing his continued youthfulness of spirit despite his age.

1. The Characterization Of Santiago Name: Sumra Jitendra Sem:1 Year:2011-12 Paper C-E-303The American Literature Department Of English

4. When the story opens, Santiago has gone eight-four days without catching a single fish. As a result he is pitied and regarded by the other fisherman as unlucky.