From common customes, the old man was not a final winner, though he took an upper wind with the big marlin at the beginning, for eventually, the big marlin was eaten by the shark and the old man had to bring the framework only to the shore.

• 从世俗胜利观的角度看，老渔夫不是最后的胜利者，因为尽管开始他战胜了大马林鱼，但是最终大马林鱼还是让鲨鱼吃了，他只是带着大马林鱼的白骨架子回到了岸上，也就是说，鲨鱼才是胜利者。