There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The shark are all sharks no better and no worse. All the symbolism that people say is shit. What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know.

Summary

This quote, uttered by the character Santiago in Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea," dismisses the notion of symbolism in the story. Santiago argues that everything in the narrative should be understood straightforwardly: the sea, the old man, the boy, the fish, and even the sharks. He rejects the need for deeper meanings or hidden messages, emphasizing that true understanding lies in perceiving what lies beyond the surface. Hemingway's intention here may be to emphasize the story's realism and the importance of seeing things as they are, without romanticizing or overanalyzing them.