In many of Hemmingway's novels, the main character of the story follows a set of rules or guidelines for conduct known as a heroic "code." In this code, the following principal ideals are present, honor, courage, and endurance in a life filled with stress, misfortune, and pain. The hero's world is often violent and disorderly, and this world of gets the best of the character in the end. In following the "code" the hero finds fulfillment and helps prove his manhood and self worth. These heroes are involved in a constant battle with not only themselves or another physical being but fate itself, which proves to overcome all eventually. In both of Hemmingway's novels, "Old Man and the Sea" and "A Farewell to Arms," the heroic figure of the story shows though fighting and overcoming a supreme ordeal in the end both face certain tragedy.
Hemmingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" is a story about an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, who goes through the most difficult struggle of and for his life. In his small village, Santiago is the center of banter and pity among the other fisherman. Eighty-four days had past and he had not caught a fish but continued the extremely hard work of packing up and going out in the morning, spending the day on the water with limited food and drink then coming home packing up all his gear with nothing to show for it. The work involved in being a fisherman in this village is a lot for a young man let alone old Santiago. Also there were no rods or reels, each fish taken is caught on a hook at the end of a line, which rests in your hands. He had a young friend, Manolin, who was sent by his parents to work with other fishermen because of the old mans lack of success. One day Santiago planned to sail into deeper water hoping for better chances of catching a prized fish. Early on he catches a small tuna and uses a fresh cut piece of flesh to bate one of his hooks.