Existentialism and sympathy/pain

Hey! Hopefully some of you readers will be able to help me?

I'm studying the level of Existentialism in Hemingway's fiction.
In The Old Man and The Sea, Hemingway focusses quite a lot on the extent to which the old man is hurt. Almost as if he is asking for sympathy for him?

This contradicts an Existential view point, right? Becuase the focus should be on his courage and endurance, and his authentic actions. Rather than asking for a response from an outside viewer.

What I am asking is: what place do sympathy, pain and injury have in existentialism as a philosophical doctrine or lifestyle?

Hope anyone can help, much love, R.