A man and the sea

The Old Man and the Sea is a short but very powerful story. It tells of an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago who has not caught a fish for 84 days. People say he is unlucky. But Santiago does not give up. He goes far out into the ocean alone. Finally, a huge marlin takes his bait. A great battle begins. For two days and nights, the old man fights the giant fish with his tired hands and strong heart. He respects the fish, but he must catch it. When he finally does, he ties it to his small boat. Then, the sharks come. They smell the blood of the marlin. Santiago fights them bravely with everything he has. But one by one, the sharks eat the great fish. When the old man returns home, only the giant skeleton is left. This story is not really about fish. It is about the human spirit. Santiago is poor and old, but he never loses hope. His famous words are, "A man can be destroyed but not defeated." This means our body can be broken, but our will to fight can stay strong. The book is simple but deep. It makes you think about struggle, respect for nature, and what true victory means. Sometimes, even when you lose everything, you can still be a hero.