How did Ernest Hemingway's life experiences influence The Old Man and the Sea?

I think it is hard not to read this book and see the
themes that it contains as an obvious comment on the life of Hemmingway and his
experiences. Note that this is one of the last pieces of fiction that he wrote before
his declining health and depression and eventually his suicide, and it certainly invites
great analysis about the human condition and what it is to be a success. This story
points towards the human struggle to achieve our dreams and what a bitter struggle that
can sometimes be, as we can end up destroying those dreams that have driven us so
strongly. Yet, at the same time, the novel stresses the importance of having dreams to
aim for, even in our darkest and lowest moments, because without dreams, the novel
suggests, we are not truly human. Thus it is highly significant that Santiago, even
after he returns to his hut, still "dreams of the lions" in Africa, representing that
his spark of humanity has not been extinguished by his momentous
experiences.

Thus we can see this novel as a kind of
allegory about Hemmingway and his life and work, and how even in the midst of the dark
times that he suffered, he was able to maintain some form of hope until his declining
health caused him to commit suicide. In addition, we know that Hemmingway was a great
fisherman, and so a lot of his personal experience helped to create the authenticity of
this novel.

Lastly, we can also look at the theme of old
age and how it is presented. Hemmingway wrote this in his sixties, and Santiago in the
novel at various stages looks back upon his life and his former strength and what he was
able to do when he was young. In spite of Santiago's obvious recognition of how age has
impacted him, he is still able to plan another fishing expedition and carry on with the
struggle of living.