Pride plays a very important role in the plot, as it is the essential element that influences all of Santiago's thoughts actions. Essentially, the rise and fall of his pride and honour follows the oscillation of the plot, and ultimately, it helps to bind the themes concretely to the plot.

Right from the very first paragraph, Santiago is characterized as a nonentity struggling against defeat, and at the same time the collapse of his pride. Having gone for eighty-four days without catching a fish, he is struggling to keep himself from breaking his own record of not having a fish for eighty-seven days. He is presented as the object of ridicule among those of his occupation, who ultimately test his pride, as each jibe only serves to puncture his self-esteem and pride at his days of former glory. The title character...