The Old Man and the Sea follows Santiago, an ageing Cuban fisherman who has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish. Determined to end his unlucky run, he sails far into the Gulf Stream and hooks an enormous marlin. For several days, Santiago struggles with the fish, enduring pain, exhaustion and isolation while admiring its strength and dignity. He eventually kills the marlin and ties it alongside his small boat.

On the journey home, sharks attack the marlin. Santiago fights them with the tools available to him, but they gradually consume the fish until only its skeleton remains. He returns to his village physically exhausted, apparently bringing back little from his ordeal. Yet the experience demonstrates his skill, endurance and refusal to surrender. The novella examines pride, perseverance, ageing, defeat and the complex relationship between human beings and the natural world.