The Old Man and the Sea question

Santiago's decision to venture far out to sea to where he believes big Marlins are tells us two things about him: first of his determination to stave off ridicule over not having caught a fish for nearly 3 months, and second, that he understands that striving for success inherently carries risk.

The Marlin he catches, though a symbol of his hubris or excessive pride, not only helps him understand himself, it also earns him the respect of his village, despite having lost most of the fish to the shark. Nevertheless, in doing so, he accepted the risk and overcame fear. I suppose one could argue that metaphorically, the fish represents life's challenges, reminding the Old Man and the reader that outcomes are fraught with trepidation and uncertainty, but our hubris causes us to forge ahead.

I'm not an expert, but I believe that one popular interpretation from scholars is the fish represents Hemingway's work and the sharks represent critics. In other words, an allegory for Hemingway's literary career.