Bessie Anderson Stanley once stated that, "He has achieved success who has lived well, enjoyed the love of little children, and who has filled his niche and accomplished his task." In Ernest Hemingway's classic novella The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, the old man, displays the characteristics of a true success; he is self assured, idolized, and over comes many obstacles.

Santiago is a confident old man who, no matter what, will never let go of his inner pride and will never stop believing in himself. Santiago knows what the other fishermen say about him, but he never lets the talk affect him. "They sat on the Terrace and many of the fishermen made fun of the old man but he was not angry." Santiago is a very self-assured man who needs no one's acceptance and reassurance to know what a success he is; a truly successful...