How far would you agree that The Old Man and the Sea is an allegory of life?’
There is an abundance of meaning in this story. As always, Hemingway’s code hero, who in this novel is Santiago, has a message for us. The message is that while a man may grow old arid be wholly down on his luck, he can still dare, stick to the rules, persist when he is defeated and thwarted, and thus by the manner of his losing win a moral victory. On another level, the story can be read as an allegory entirely personal to
its author, as an account of his own struggle, his determination, and his literary vicissitudes. Like Hemingway, Santiago is a master who sets out his lines with more care and precision than his competitors. But he has not had any luck for a long time.
Once he was very strong, the champion; yet his whole reputation is imperiled now, and he is growing old. Still he feels that he has strength enough; he knows the devices and techniques of his trade; he is resolute, and he is still out for a really big success. He did prove his strength before, but he has got to prove-it again, and he does so. After he has caught his prize, the sharks come and take it all away from him, as they will always try to do. But he caught it, he fought it well, he did all he could and it was a lot; and at the end he is happy,
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