The Old Man and the Sea is a classic novel detailing the life of a Cuban fisherman and his fight with a huge marlin. Overall, symbolism plays a key role in shifting the focus from a dry novel to a profound tale with a lasting impression. Religious references are also a significant component, adding a unique point of view that readers rarely experience in an ordinary novel. Hemmingway knew that combining the two would prove to be the perfect combination. A thorough reading will reveal numerous key elements, transforming The Old Man and the Sea into an enduring classic tale. Among all the literary elements used in literary works, symbolism is one of the most important. Attentive readers will find themselves baffled if they miss the symbolism and its vital meaning throughout The Old Man and the Sea. “In Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea, he uses a lot of symbolism to help readers understand the message he is trying to portray” (Symbolism). Those who have read Hemingway's novel will notice the symbolism revealed throughout and its key message, starting with simple, ordinary symbolism and expanding to vast examples of symbolic detail. Hemingway captivated his readers by using simple symbolism such as sharks or complex ideas such as the sea representing God, both methods easily proved to be a key element, making the novel an instant success. The symbolism implemented by Hemingway, however minute, does well to serve its purpose; adding an important literacy device. The first time symbolism occurs in the Old Man and the Sea emerges at the beginning of the novel between Santiago and Manolin. The relationship between the protagonist Santiago and his protégé Manolin, parallel to that of a...... middle of paper......Man and the sea: the dialectics of Hemingway's image." elcamino. 2002. Web. November 28, 2011. Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York, NY: SCRIBNER, 2003. Print. Trent Lorcher, November 2011. “The Old Man and the Sea: Symbols.” "The Symbolism of the Old Man and the Sea.", 1998.