The Old Man and the Sea Book Analysis

Throughout the book, The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway describes the relationship between Santiago and Manolin. He explains their past together and their current relationship. One quote describing their relationship is "The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him" (10). This quote shows the past of their relationship, Santiago teaching Manolin to fish, and what their relationship is now, the boy loves the man. The reader can infer that Manolin's love for Santiago is a result of his fishing lessons. The love Manolin has for the old man is shown in his actions, he is no longer allowed to go out on the boat with the old man because of his bad luck, but he still brings him food and helps him carry his equipment. Without the boy's help Santiago would have a hard time taking care of his self, Santiago even says, "The boy keeps me alive" (106).

Throughout the book Manolin wishes he could go with the old man on the boat, but does not because of his parents wishes. He doesn't like the man he works with now because of the way he treats him. Manolin feels that the man treats him as inferior and he remembers that the old man never did that. Manolin cares more about the way his instructor treats him and what he learns than how many fish he catches, and because of this he wants to return to work for Santiago. At the end of the book after Santiago returns with the carcass of the huge fish, Manolin tells him that he will work with him and he doesn't care what his parents say. Manolin worries about the old man while he is gone and when Santiago returns Manolin is very happy to see him. "The boy saw that the old man was breathing and then he saw the old man's hands and he started to cry" (122). Manolin realizes how much he preferred spending time with the old man and knows he wants to return to work with him.

Hemmingway writes differently than many authors and give the message to the reader in a more inferred way. Instead of saying thing in a cause-and-effect way he writes the information in a way that forces the reader to make their own inference. By writing this way he allows the reader to interpret the book how they want and make the story more personalized without changing any of the facts.