Santiago and the Boy: The Old Man and the Sea

The relationship between Santiago and the boy is introduced early in the story. They are unlikely companions; one is old and the other young, yet they share an awesome amount of respect and loyalty for each other. Santiago does not treat Manolin as a young boy but rather as an equal. Age is not a factor in their relationship. Manolin does not even act as a young boy; he is mature and sensitive to Santiago's feelings. He even offers to disobey his parents and accompany Santiago on his fishing trips instead of the more prosperous boat. Santiago is viewed as an outcast in his village because he has not caught any fish for more than eighty-four days and is therefore unlucky. Manolin is loyal to Santiago and even when his parents forbid him, he wants to help his friend. Their conversations are comfortable, like that of two friends who have known each other for a long time. When they speak it is usually about baseball or fishing, the two things they have most in common. Their favorite team is the Yankees and Santiago never loses faith in them even when the star player, Joe DiMaggio is injured with a heel spur(Hemingway, 21). In this way Santiago not only teaches Manolin about fishing but also about important characteristics such as faith. They help each other to become more understanding and better people.

These two are the best of friends. Even though the boy is not aloud to fish with Santiago, he brings him coffee and fresh bait in the hope that he will catch fish so that Manolin can rejoin him in his boat. The boy loves Santiago, and Santiago loves the boy. Manolin cares for the old man even though he does not have to. He knows that his friend is struggling to make money and he knows that he is not eating that much. So what does he do? He brings the old man some food. In the end though Manolin rejoins the old man's boat and they are able to sail the seas together again, even though it goes against what his parents had told him to do.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.