The Old man and the Sea: How does this novel reflect the history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting? What is this book's symbolic and thematic significance?

The Old Man and the Sea takes place in Cuba during the 1940’s. I think that the book reflects the time of it’s setting very well.  In the references Santiago makes, we can tell that he kept up with the times, and was especially aware of American baseball. He mentions Joe DiMaggio a lot (Hemingway  pg. 21-24), and, according to some research I did, he was a very popular and successful player in the 1940’s.  DiMaggio won three MVP awards, and had a 56 game hitting streak, and in the game streak, he had 91 hits in 223 at bats, averaging .409. ("Yankees") Santiago mentions DiMaggio’s fellow Yankee players too: Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomer. Santiago also talks of Dick Sisler, who, in one article I read, was called the “Cuban League Ledged” and played with Habana during the 1945-46 and 1953-54 seasons ("CubanBéisbol."). Historically, the story was very accurate in it’s mention of famous people at the time. The book reflects the setting and time in other ways too. As the story goes on, you notice how important fishing is to Santiago. He lives on the coast, so fishing was one of the main ways that he gained money, and sometimes the only way. Where you live influences and dictates what your job is, and that was one of the social issues of the times. Santiago lives near the Gulf of Mexico, and fishing was a very popular and expanding job at that time, too.

I think the Symbolic and Thematic significance is that  you should keep trying, never quit, and never give up hope. Santiago could have given up, but he didn’t, and he made it back in one piece and surprised everyone for his bravery and daring.

"Yankees." - The Official Site of Joe DiMaggio. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2012. <http://www.joedimaggio.com/the-ballplayer/yankees/>.

"CubanBéisbol." CubanBéisbol: Dick Sisler Was Cuban League Legend. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2012. <http://cubanbeisbol.blogspot.com/2010/11/dick-sisler-was-cuban-league-legend.html>.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.