TheOldManandtheSeaFor84days,theoldfishermanSantiagohascaughtnothing.Alone,impoverished,andfacinghisownmortality,Santiagoisnowconsideredunlucky.SoManolin(Santiago’sfishingpartneruntilrecentlyandtheyoungmanSantiagohastaughtsincetheageoffive)hasbeenconstrainedbyhisparentstofishinanother,moreproductiveboat.Everyevening,though,whenSantiagoagainreturnsempty-handed,Manolinhelpscarryhometheoldman’sequipment,keepshimcompany,andbringshimfood.Onthemorningofthe85thday,Santiagosetsoutbeforedawnonathree-dayodysseythattakeshimfarouttosea.Insearchofanepiccatch,heeventuallydoessnagamarlinofepicproportions,enduringtremendoushardshiptolandthegreatfish.Hestrapsthemarlinalongthelengthofhisskiffandheadsforhome,hardlybelievinghisownvictory.Withinanhour,amakosharkattacksthemarlin,tearingawayagreathunkofitsfleshandmutilatingSantiago’sprize.Santiagofightsthemako,enduringgreatsuffering,andeventuallykillsitwithhisharpoon,whichhelosesinthestruggle.Thegreattearinthemarlin’sfleshreleasesthefish’sbloodandscentintothewater,attractingpacksofshovel-nosedsharks.Withwhateverequipmentremainsonboard,Santiagorepeatedlyfightsoffthepacksofthesescavengers,enduringexhaustionandgreatphysicalpain,eventearingsomethinginhischest.Eventually,thesharkspickthemarlinclean.Defeated,Santiagoreachesshoreandbeachestheskiff.Aloneinthedark,helooksbackatthemarlin’sskeletoninthereflectionfromastreetlightandthenstumbleshometohisshack,fallingfacedownontohiscotinexhaustion.Thenextmorning,ManolinfindsSantiagoinhishutandcriesovertheoldman’sinjuries.Manolinfetchescoffeeandhearsfromtheotherfishermanwhathehadalreadyseen—thatthemarlin’sskeletonlashedtotheskiffiseighteenfeetlong,thegreatestfishthevillagehasknown.ManolinsitswithSantiagountilheawakesandthengivestheoldmansomecoffee.TheoldmantellsManolinthathewasbeaten.ButManolinreassureshimthatthegreatfishdidn’tbeathimandthattheywillfishtogetheragain,thatluckdoesn’tmatter,andthattheoldmanstillhasmuchtoteachhim.Thatafternoon,sometouristsseethemarlin’sskeletonwaitingtogooutwiththetideandaskawaiterwhatitis.Tryingtoexplainwhathappenedtothemarlin,thewaiterreplies,“Eshark.”Butthetouristsmisunderstandandassumethat’swhattheskeletonis.Backinhisshack,withManolinsittingbesidehim,SantiagosleepsagainanddreamsoftheyounglionshehadseenalongthecoastofAfricawhenhewasayoungman.