How did Hemingway reflect modernism in The Old Man and the Sea Modernism focuses on isolation struggle courage and man s search for meaning in a changing world Santiago the old fisherman reflects these ideas through his fight against the marlin his loneliness and his quiet endurance Ernest Hemingway clearly demonstrates these elements in The Old Man and the Sea Struggle and Isolation Santiago lives a lonely life in his poor shack He is isolated from society and spends his days alone at sea Yet he faces life bravely His eyes remain cheerful and undefeated Like a modern hero he depends only on his own strength The sea becomes his testing ground Search for Meaning The old man s struggle is not only to catch a fish It is a search for purpose in life He fights the marlin for three days though his hands bleed and his back burns