The basis of the conflict in the story The Old Man And The
Sea is man versus circumstances. Santiago has a series of diverse circumstances which
took away his opportunities.
First, Santiago had a conflict
with the sea: The sea was his fountain of sustenance, and his job- Yet, it was not
providing for it and, once it did give him the huge Marlin he so much wanted, it took it
back from him, leaving him only with a skeleton.
Second,
Santiago had a conflict with life: He was old, his energy was dwindling, and he was
suffering the aches of age. Had he been a more fortunate and younger person he could
have been able to extend his work day, or come up with other ways to obtain his fish.
Yet, there he was, alone in the middle of the
water.
However, the inspiration behind this man is our
American society: Shaken but not beaten. This is a man to whom life had not been so
kind, and yet, he is never beat down. In fact, he revels in the things he
loves: Baseball, Joe DiMaggio, and the American dream (which is represented in the giant
Marlin).
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