The lion on the beach of Africa appear as a significant symbol in the Old Man and the Sea. Santiago, the protagonist of the story, dreams about them three times in the novel. Each of the times the lions appear in Santiago's dreams they are portrayed as key to the life of the old man and the plot of the story especially this sojourn in Cassablance and his heroic hand wrestling victory over the negro of Cienfuegos.
First, Santiago dreams about the lions as he departs on his three-day fishing expedition. They appear as ordinary cubs and play like young cats in the dusk. Santiago here sees a similarity betwen the cubs and his boy, Manolin. He loves them as he loves Manolin because they are youthful like Manolin who seems to him a sign of great things to come, The image of the lions is also significant in Santiago's dream about them because they always make him, like Manolin, happy; they are also good company to him because he sees them in the image of his apprentice.
Secondly, the lions appear in Santiago's dream as he sleeps on the boat for few hours during his battle with the ferocious fish, the marlin. This time the lions appear as adults. In their majesty, the lions suggest great strength and honour, providing Santiago with inspiration, a nobility of purpose, and a sense of vitality that keeps him on toward his ambition. They are therefore significant in Santiago's dream because they provide him with inspiration and belief in himself and urge him to be hopeful in hi adventure.
In addition, the lions are significant to the story because often, the old man almost simultaneously dreams about them as he reams about Manolin. Whenever the boy appears in Santiago's thoughts, he is depicted as exerting himself and proving his worth. Whenever Santiago thinks about the lions, he relaxes because they appear in his imagination to be in control and thus, inspire him to have confidence in himself.
Finally, the lions appear in Santiago's dream at the very end of the stroy. Their significance at a time that the old man appears to have been finally defeated is that there are still promises of regeneration and renewal, particularly because Manolin also comes into the picture to rescue his master.
The sombre atmosphere at the end of the novel is reinforced by the final image of the lions to suggest the interplay of destruction and renewal in the story of the protagonist.