Santiago is a man of actions, resourcefulness and integrity?

Santiago endures a great struggle with an uncommonly large and noble marlin only to lose the fish to rapacious sharks on his way back to land. Despite this loss, Santiago ends the novel with his spirit undefeated. Santiago is heroic in the face of human sorrow, resilience, and tragedy. He considers the sea his mistress and builds a mythos around the sea and its creatures. Santiago's struggle, at least in his head, with the Marlin honors both the marlin and himself. Santiago's sufferings are Christ-like in that he is willing to sacrifice himself for redemption.