In the story "The Old Man And The Sea" how does Santiago try to retain his dignity in life?

Dignity is honor, respect, self-pride, and high status.  Santiago retains dignity throughout the novel.  He exhibits the wisdom, humility, and patience of a saint.  Not only that, but he takes on a Herculean task worthy of many men half his age, and had it not been for the sharks, he would have succeeded.

Here are the ways he shows dignity:

• In the arm wrestling match, he shows respect for his opponent.


• While openly being taunted by the younger fisherman, he does not retaliate


• He honors his profession, even though in a slump, not not wallowing in self-misery or quitting


• He takes the boy as a disciple and teaches him dignity


• He respects all of nature: the fish in the sea, the birds in the air; granted, he hates sharks, but who doesn't?


• He achieves status by going far out and hooking the great fish, thereby ending his bad luck streak; he is akin to the great DiMaggio


• He does not lose hope after the sharks have dismantled his great fish.  We know he will fish again and will regain his respect among the fisherman and his luck among the fish