However, he soon faces the dilemma of confronting the sharks, thinking they will come running amuck toward his skiff on account of the blood trail the dead marlin is leaving behind in the water. He starts using his fishing tactics and finally succeeds in placing the harpoon in the heart of the marlin.

On the final day, the marlin starts circling around the skiff after coming to the surface at which the old man becomes quite happy but is exhausted to the point of madness. However, he does not succeed, neither the marlin succeeds in breaking his resolve. For two days and nights, the old man continues struggling to kill the fish to haul him around to lash beside his skiff. Santiago believes that fate has something else for them in-store. Both are hidden from each other, testing each other and trying to free from each other. By the evening the old man is exhausted, as the marlin does not appear on the surface. By afternoon, he catches a giant marlin after seeing which he feels that it is going to test his fishing skill, stamina, and perseverance. After setting up various lines with proper baits, he waits for the fishes to come. On the 85 th day that Santiago leaves quite early in the morning after setting fishing gear in his skiff and goes long and deep into the Gulf Stream for fishing.

They also share their interests in baseball and the best players such as DiMaggio’s memories with each other. However, he is not disappointed with the fact that a young boy, Manolin, is always there to boost up his confidence who’d always say that Santiago is the best fisherman in the world. It was the first time during his 84 days record of having arrived without any fish, he has been finally termed “salao” the most unlucky person. The Old Man and The Sea is a heart-touching story of an experienced old angler, Santiago, who is dubbed as an unfortunate man on the Terrace where he used to stay when returned his fishing trips.

The old man and the sea author