Marlins and the sea are usually never associated with lions. They are, however, in The Old Man and the Sea written by Ernest Hemingway. Together they are extremely symbolic in the novella. Lions are often the subject of Santiago's dreams and represent youth and nature. The old man hooks a marlin and fights the fish, which is a wonderful challenge. Santiago's universe is the sea and represents a lifestyle. Manliness was also a connector for the three aspects and is intertwined with all of them. The sea, the marlin and the lions are all symbolic attributes of youth, challenges, life and are all linked to an idea of ​​virility. Manolin is one of the main characters in the story and represents faith, love and loyalty. The old man constantly needs help and Manolin is always there for him, whatever the circumstance. The narrator explains, “the boy's parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and definitely salao, which is the worst form of unfortunate” (Hemingway 9). The passage implies that Manolin's parents did not want him to associate with the old man but, despite their wishes, he helps him day after day. He shows great loyalty to the old man and doesn't care what others think of him because he knows he is helping a friend in need. Manolin is one of the only reasons the old man stays alive because he provides much needed moral support and buys essential living items for Santiago. Everything he does to take care of the old man is thoughtful and Manolin does it with care and love. He's an incredible, mature boy who does all his work at such a young age and has experienced things that normal kids couldn't have done at that age. The old man tells the story to Manolin,......middle of paper......ail. Both in the sea and in life there are a series of possibilities that are hidden from the common eye; some are gifts to be treasured and others are problems to be overcome. Neither will be found unless man makes the journey. If man is lucky enough to discover a treasure, he must fight to the death to preserve it; if man has the misfortune to discover an evil lurking beneath the surface of the sea, he will have to fight it courageously and nobly to the end. In both cases, the most important thing is the fight, and a man achieves hero status if he fights the sea with grace under pressure. In the novel, Santiago goes on a sea voyage and encounters a giant marlin. He fights nobly to gain the treasure and then fights the sharks to save it. The fight defines him as a hero. Even though he lost the marlin to the sharks, he won the naval battle of life.