The Old Man's StrugglesThrough times of struggle, humans resort to memories and ideas to help them through the conflict. This is particularly true when it comes to the hardships of fishing. Santiago is at battle for many days with a large marlin where he becomes triumphant, although temporarily, he was not defeated. He uses memories of the boy and baseball to keep his mind of the pain that he was in to fulfill his duty as a fisherman. Using characterization, point of view and symbolism, youthful strength, courage, and love of nature is strongly demonstrated in Ernest Hemingway's novella The Old Man and the Sea.Santiago's strength and endurance was given to him by the boy before he left both physically with the food and bait, and mentally with the help he gave him. To Santiago the boy was much more than a child. He became a symbol of strength for the old man while he was fishing. Santiago repeated over and over "I wish the boy were here and that I had some salt," (Hemingway 56). This shows that the boy would aid him in a time of crisis. As Carlos Baker says, the presence of the boy would help through conflict showing the boy's strength and courage of his youth (29). The old man feels alone and weak without the presence of the boy with him because throughout the whole book, the only people that the old man even speaks to is the boy. Many other people in the town make fun of him for being horribly unlucky and old (Hemingway 48). Although everybody believes that he is very unlucky, the boy never gives up on him (Hemingway 125). They have a mutual relationship between eachother. The man teaches the boy how to fish, and the boy gives the man food and aid (Handy 209). "The love of Manolo for Santiago is that of a disciple for a master in the arts of fishing," says literary critic, Carlos Baker (29). The boy loves the old man like a father. "Santiago says 'The boy keeps me alive...I must not deceive myself too much,' quotes Carlos Baker" (29). The boy reminds Santiago of his own childhood making him happy and inspired to keep fighting. He remembers a story of him being the best arm wrestler in his town and it gives him endurance (Baker 28). Even in Santiago's most painful situations, the boy is always optimistic showing his courage and love for the old man (Hemingway 125). When the old man got back from the fishing trip where he was hurt badly and felt that he was beaten by the fish, the boy responded with "He didn't beat you. Not the fish," (Hemingway 124). The boy helps the man heal back to perfect health at the end of the book even when the man has been hurt badly. The boy says "Lie down, old man, and I will bring you your clean shirt. And something to eat," (Hemingway 125). Youthful strength proves how Santiago was able to fight the marlin and win to achieve a greater morality.Nature was another source for strength...
