To start off, the theme of pride and ambition against fate and chance is shown throughout the novel, especially when Santiago continues to go fishing without making a catch. Although, some may see this as an act of perseverance due to Santiago’s diligence, this action is best interpreted through the theme of pride and ambition. First of all, Santiago is considered to be one of the worst forms of unlucky. As the novel states, “he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. . . but after forty days without a fish the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely ad finally salao, which is one of the worst forms of unlucky” (9). In other words, Santiago had been jinxed for days. However, this had not been the first time