PlotSummaryInasmallfishingvillageinCuba,Santiago,anold,weatheredfishermanhasjustgone84dayswithoutcatchingafish.Onthe85thday,heisdeterminedtocatchabig,impressivefish.Foryears,SantiagohasbeenfishingwithayoungboynamedManolin.Manolinstartedfishingwiththeoldmanwhenhewasonly5yearsold.SantiagoislikeManolin'ssecondfather,andhastaughttheyoungboyeverythingaboutfishing.ManolinisextremelyloyaltoSantiagoandmakessurethattheoldmanisalwayssafe,fedandhealthy.Manolin'sparents,however,forcetheboytoleaveSantiagoandfishonamorelucrativefishingboat.ManolindoesnotwanttoleaveSantiago,butmusthonorhisdutytohisparents.Onthenewboat,Manolincatchesseveralfishwithinthefirstfewdays.Santiago,meanwhile,decidestoheadoutontheGulfStreamalone.Hefeelsthe85thdaywillbeluckyforhim.Hesetsoutonhisold,ricketyskiff.Aloneonthewater,Santiagosetsuphisfishinglineswiththeutmostprecision,askillthatotherfishermanlack.Finally,hefeelssomethingheavytuggingatoneofhislines.AhugeMarlinhasfoundSantiago'sbaitandthissetsoffaverylongstrugglebetweenthetwo.TheMarlinissohugethatitdragsSantiagobeyondallotherboatsandpeople-hecannolongerseelandfromwherethefishdragshim.ThestruggletakesitstollonSantiago.Hishandsbecomebadlycrampedandheiscutandbruisedfromtheforceofthefish.SantiagoandtheMarlinbecomeunitedoutatsea.Theyareattachedtoeachotherphysically,andinSantiago'scase,emotionally.HerespectsandlovestheMarlinandadmiresitsbeautyandgreatness.Heseesthefishashisbrother.Despitethis,Santiagohastokillit.Hefeelsguiltykillingabrother,butafteranintensestruggleinwhichthefishdragstheskiffaroundincircles,Santiagoharpoonstheverylargefishandhangsitonthesideofhisboat.Hefeelsbrave,likehisheroJoeDiMaggio,whoaccomplishedgreatfeatsdespiteobstacles,injuriesoradversities.Afterenjoyingafewmomentsofpride,apackofsharksdetectsthebloodinthewaterandfollowthetrailtoSantiago'sskiff.Santiagohastofendoffeachsharkthatgoesafterhisprizedcatch.EachsharktakesahugebiteoutoftheMarlin,buttheoldmanfendsthemoff,himselfnowbruised,butalive.HesailsbacktoshorewiththecarcassofhisMarlin.Heisbarelyabletowalkandslowlystaggersbacktohishut,wherehefallsintobed.Thenextmorning,theboyfindshismentorandcrieswhenhelooksatSantiago'sbruisedhands.Hepromiseshewillrejecthisparents'wishesandvowstofishwithSantiagoagain.