The Old Man and the Sea Blog 9

Manolin is really the only other human that is seen in The Old Man and the Sea.  Though he is only seen in the beginning of the story and at the end, Manolin is a key character that loves and cares for the old man.  He can almost be considered Santiago’s apprentice to fishing and his best friend.  The old man and boy share a father-son like relationship which gives Santiago motivation to keep going in his fight against the marlin.  The two of them love to talk baseball and just spend time with each other.  Manolin’s greatest character trait is his compassion for others.  “Where did you wash? the boy thought.  The village water supply was two streets down the road.  I must have water here for him, the boy thought, and soap and a good towel.  Why am I so thoughtless?  I must get him another shirt and a jacket for the winter and some sort of shoes and another blanket” (Hemmingway 21).  Manolin was always worried about the wellbeing of the old man.  He would get other villagers to help him provide food and other necessities to the old man.  This compassion was based in his love for Santiago.  Even when Manolin’s father says that he can no longer fish with Santiago, he still goes out and spends his time with him.  At the end of the story, he refuted his dad completely and says he will sail with the old man no matter the consequences.  Manolin allows Santiago to have life after his defeat at the hands of the sharks.  He gives the old man a purpose to continue in his fishing and a friendship that nothing can break.  This uncompromised devotion to each other shows both Santiago’s and Manolin’s depth of character and makes them feel real. Manolin demonstrates a huge level of maturity for his age by helping the old man.  His purity allowed for him to be a symbol to the old man. 

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.