A major theme throughout The Old Man and the Sea was the theme of how pride can motivate greatness from us. Pride in this novel, as a theme is not meant to be looked at in a negative fashion, but as a positive feeling about one's own abilities. While the old man, Santiago, is very prideful when he refuses to admit that he is poor and has no food to give to the young boy, it shows he is practical about his living conditions when he accepts food from other people. Later in the novel as he fights the big fish, Santiago refuses to give up because of his pride; not due to arrogance, but because he knows that this fish above all others is great enough to kill him if he lets it happen and that to offer less than his best effort would be an insult to the fish. I really feel as if I identify with the experience and values of Santiago in this novel. As someone who has been known to be somewhat arrogant sometimes, it is fascinating to me to read about a character whose pride is not equivalent to arrogance but it is used as a tool to put up the best fight possible. I am obviously no fisherman, but when related to competition, I feel I connect with Santiago's experience. When I played hockey before my devastating head injuries occurred, I was a bruiser on the ice. I was as tough as they came, and I would get in the faces of the biggest and nastiest players out there. Sometimes, however, my pride in my ability to throw punches and body checks got the best of me and I did not respect my opponents. That is when I was faed with the challenge of recovering from my first major concussion. I learned my lesson to always take pride in what I am good at and give it your all because someone is always going to be bigger and stronger than you. Do not insult your opponent with less than your best because that is when you will lose.