What moral victory does Santiago win in his battle with the hostile forces in The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway in The Old Man and the Sea presents Santiago as a man who wins moral victory through defeat He loses the marlin s flesh but wins glory through courage and endurance His fight against nature pain and loneliness becomes a symbol of man s unbroken spirit Courage in Struggle Santiago s victory lies in his courage Though weak and old he goes far into the sea to test his strength He hooks a giant marlin that pulls him for three days He suffers hunger wounds and exhaustion but never gives up He says Fish I ll stay with you until I am dead Endurance in Defeat The sharks destroy the marlin yet Santiago does not lose faith He continues to fight them with his harpoon knife oar and