what is the whole characterization of the book"the old man and the sea"?

Santagio, an aging fisherman is pretty much the joke of the wharf. he sets out to make that on great catch. He has no friends the only one he does have is Manolin a young boy who helps Satangio catch the marlin. He has a bad hand that cramps up on him as well as poor technology than the other fisherman. It is about coming to grips with getting old and being able to do the things that you were once accostumed in doing.