1. Obviously, it is the third-person narration. It is omniscient as reflections and dreams of Santiago are provided. Peculiarity of narrative voice is that Santiago's thoughts given as direct monologues - narrator does not provide explanation, his own interpretation, of what happening with the character. Letting a reader himself built more intimate relations with the hero. The whole text is pure narration without any insertion of author's meditations.
2. Nevertheless, the narrative voice is reliable and can be treated as reverend in attitude to the old man.
3. On the face of it, the tone of the book seems somewhat pessimistic, but I would rather call it placid and unhurried (like a sea). Culmination is not accompanied with great burst of energy. Importance of the moment is perceived inwardly. The tone is introvert, thus, all is endured at heart. Moreover, in the melancholy of the tone the hope is easily peeped out.
3. Reason for asceticism of the narrative voice Hemingway himself explained as his disinclination to write about what was already satisfactory described by other writers. His conception of literature is to encourage readers to create the novel in their own minds. Hemingway tried to leave out all unnecessary details in order to pass his own experience in such a way as to be sure that the reader would fill that this is already a part of their own experience.
All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really
happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all
that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you: the good and
the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places
and how the weather was. If you can get so that you can give that to
Esquire Dec. 1934 "Old Newsman Writes"
1. In structure the iceberg principle is used, that is, under simple story some more substantial moral is lying.
Unlike most novels, The Old...