The Old Man and the Sea - Summary The Old Man and the Sea is the story of an epic struggle between an old man and a big fish. Santiago is the aged Cuban fisherman whose luck has left him. For eighty-four days he's been unable to make a catch. He is so conspicuously unlucky that the parents of his devoted apprentice and friend, Manolin, force the boy to leave the old man and go …showed first 75 words of 527 total…

…showed last 75 words of 527 total…carcass of the fish, still lashed to the boat. Manolin, who has been worried sick at the old man's absence, is moved to tears to find Santiago safe in his bed. The boy watches over the old man's sleep. When the old man wakes, he the two agree to fish together again. The old man falls asleep once more. That afternoon, tourists observe the remains of the giant marlin and mistake it for a shark.