"and from his pain he knew he was not dead"

I don't know a lot about Ernest Hemingway, but am intrigued to learn more after reading The Old Man and the Sea. The tale is narrated by an old, but strong, fisherman who takes us through a long tough journey of perseverance, and, staying true to the tale's character, leads us to an ending that at first seems unjust, but resonates with our recognition of life's deliberate determination of always getting its way.

"and from his pain he knew he was not dead"

We can all relate to the fate of the old man, and know his pain. This particular quote resonated with me quite strongly; the association of being alive with being able to feel.