The main idea behind The Old Man and the Sea is that man can be destroyed but not defeated. The setting of the novel works with the symbolism throughout to reinforce this idea. The sea, for example, symbolizes life and Santiago's isolation in the universe. The marlin symbolizes Santiago's struggle against nature and his own mortality. The sharks represent the destructive forces of nature that threaten to destroy Santiago's spirit. The novel is also an example of Naturalism in Literature.
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