After killing the marlin that he calls brother, Santiago tells himself he must now do the slave work of lashing the fish to the boat and bringing it in. Santiago thinks of the fish as his fortune, although that is not why he wishes to touch the fish.
What is slave work in The Old Man and the Sea?
He killed the fish he used to call a brother. Now he has a slave work to do: to lash the fish to the boat and bring it to the shore . After lashing the huge fish, he heads home.
Why does Santiago call the marlin his brother?
Santiago calls the giant marlin “brother” because he realizes that it is a kindred spirit to him, a noble animal who will fight the good fight with everything that it has . He is glad it is not a dolphin: “It is a strong full-blooded fish,” he thought. “I was lucky to get him instead of dolphin.
What does Santiago lament about the terms?
Santiago regrets not only killing his brother but having to tie the fish to the side of the skiff. He especially laments the fish being attacked by sharks , for whom he has no respect.
Why does Santiago regret killing the fish?
Santiago regrets having had to kill it but takes pride in his landing of the fish , in spite of the difficulties and pain he experienced. You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman.
Who is Santiago's hero?
Even though Santiago experiences pain and suffering, he reminds himself that DiMaggio , his hero, does as well but persists through his pain.
What does Manolin fetch Santiago after he sees Santiago's ravaged hands?
Early the next morning, Manolin comes to the old man's shack, and the sight of his friend's ravaged hands brings him to tears. He goes to fetch coffee . Fishermen have gathered around Santiago's boat and measured the carcass at eighteen feet.
Why does Santiago hope the marlin will jump?
Santiago hopes that the fish will jump, because its air sacs would fill and prevent the fish from going too deep into the water , which would make it easier to pull out. ... He pledges his love and respect to the fish, but he nevertheless promises that he will kill his opponent before the day ends.
What is wrong with Santiago's hands?
Santiago develops what he identifies as a “line burn” on his right hand . This is before he even begins to intensely fish. The left hand then develops an intense cramp, and he is unable to straighten it. Later, he sustains a bad line cut on his left hand.
What does the marlin symbolize for Santiago?
The 1,500-pound marlin that Santiago brings in symbolizes Communion, martyrdom, and redemption . Because the fish is attacked by sharks only an hour after Santiago has landed it and is ultimately destroyed, the meaning of the fish to The Old Man and the Sea expands beyond the pages of Hemingway's novella.
Why did Manolin leave Santiago?
Santiago, an old fisherman, has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish . For the first forty days, a boy named Manolin had fished with him, but Manolin's parents, who call Santiago salao, or “the worst form of unlucky,” forced Manolin to leave him in order to work in a more prosperous boat.
Why Santiago took down photo of his wife from the wall?
Although he has taken down the photograph of his presumably deceased wife because it makes him feel lonely , he has kept her religious pictures. One is of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the other is of the Virgin of Cobre.
Why does Santiago not let his lines drift like the other fishermen?
Why does Santiago not let his lines drift like the other fishermen? He is a stubborn man who prefers the old-fashioned way of fishing . He believes it is imprecise, and he strives always to be exact. It is dangerous, as he might become tangled with another boat.
Why did Santiago finally lose hope?
Why did Santiago finally lose hope? He lost hope because the sharks ate basically all the meat on the fish . ... Because the sharks ate the fish.
How does the old man feel when the fish is killing him?
The old man thinks that the fish is killing him, and admires him for it, saying, “I do not care who kills who.” Eventually, he pulls the fish onto its side by the boat and plunges his harpoon into it. The fish lurches out of the water, brilliantly and beautifully alive as it dies.
Why does Santiago apologize to the fish?
Even as he remains determined to kill the marlin, Santiago feels sorry that it has had nothing to eat . He feels that the people it will feed are not worthy of this great fish.
