In Santiago's childhood, he sailed ships to Africa where he saw lions playing on the beach. His dreams were based on past events and memories. The symbolic meaning of the lions is the youth of Santiago. When Santiago dreamed of carefree lions playing on the beach, he gained the strength and stamina he needed to continue. “After this he began to dream of the long yellow beach and saw the first of the lions come down upon it at the beginning of darkness and then the other lions came…he waited to see if there would be any more lions and he was happy” (Hemingway 81 ) The lions also symbolize peace and harmony. The young lions played on the beach. This also helped Santiago to relax beach They played like young cats in the twilight and he loved them as he loved the boy.” (Hemingway 25). He dreamed of lions, it reminded him of his youth and