ill. When the marlin pulls his boat day and night, he holds the line tightly. His hands bleed, but he does not stop. Santiago fights both the great fish and his own weakness. Even after the sharks eat the marlin, he does not lose his faith. 

Pain and Suffering: The next important theme is pain and suffering. Santiago’s hands, back, and shoulders are full of wounds. The line cuts him deeply. He feels hunger and thirst, yet he never complains. His suffering makes him noble. The narrator says, 

“He felt the line with his right hand and noticed his hand was bleeding.”

This shows his hard struggle and his patience. His three wounds remind us of Christ’s suffering. Santiago’s pain becomes a test of faith. Like Christ, he endures silently and continues to fight.

Pride and Honor: Santiago’s pride is also an important theme. His pride gives him the strength to go far into the sea. He is poor, old, and alone, but his pride makes him brave. He wants to show the boy what kind of man he is. He says, 

“I wish I could show him what sort of man I am.”

He fights the marlin not for money but for honor. He calls the marlin his brother but says,

“He is my brother. But I must kill him.”

This shows his respect for his enemy. His pride is pure and honest. It stems from a love of work, not from selfish desire.

Man and Nature: The novel also shows man’s relation with nature. Santiago loves the sea, the birds, and the fish. He sees them as friends and equals. Yet, he must kill to live. The narrator says, 

“The iridescent bubbles were beautiful…but they were the falsest thing in the sea.”

This means nature is both kind and cruel. Santiago understands this truth. He knows that the sea gives life, but also takes it away. 

Hope and Renewal: Another clear theme is hope and renewal. Santiago never loses hope, even in the most challenging times. His hope gives him the power to persevere when everything seems lost. At the end, though he brings home only the skeleton, he wins moral victory. The boy comes back to him, and he dreams again of lions playing on the African beaches. The lions stand for youth, strength, and new life. His body is weak, but his soul remains alive and hopeful.

In summary, Hemingway presents life as a struggle that demands courage, patience, and faith. Santiago’s endurance demonstrates that success is not the primary goal; instead, effort and spirit are the primary goals.