Biblical Influence and Symbolism in The Old Man and the SeaMany times, Ernest Hemingway's stories have a lot of religious influence and symbolism. In Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, many events in the life of Santiago the fisherman are similar to incidents recorded in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Character names translated from Spanish to English are just one of many similarities. The characters of the Old Man and the Sea are actually major figures in the New Testament. Santiago is an old man, but he had young eyes. No matter how defeated he was, he would never show it and he would look on the bright side of things. In my mind, these traits make Santiago a divine figure. Manolin, which translates as Messiah, is Jesus (Stoltzfus cited in CLC 13:280). Santiago is the “father” who teaches his son and symbolic disciple, Manolin. After catching the biggest marlin, Manolin will leave his parents to follow the teachings of Santiago, his master, just like Jesus did (Stoltzfus cited in CLC 13:280). Pedrico is actually Saint Peter, Jesus' closest apostle and a great sinner (Wilson 50). Peter helped Jesus fish for souls while Pedrico helped Manolin fish for food. Santiago gives Pedrico the head of the mutilated marlin which symbolizes Saint Peter as head of the Christian Church and first pope (Stoltzfus CLC 280). In history there are many references to the crucifixion of Jesus. Santiago's badly injured hands evoke the hands of the crucified Jesus and three other situations reinforce this theory (Brenner, The Old Man and the Sea, A Tale of an Ordinary Man 37). First, Santiago's marlin is approached by a pair of shovel-nosed sharks. “Yes,” he said out loud. (Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea 107) There is no meaning to "Ay", but it may be the sound a man makes when his hands are nailed to wood (Brenner, The Old Man and the sea, Story of a Common Man). Man 38). Then, once back on land, Santiago climbs the hill to his cabin, the mast on his shoulder, falling several times (Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea 121). This is an obvious reference to Christ's struggle to carry the cross up the hill. Cavalry (Crossan, The Historical Jesus 163).