The Old Man and the Sea: The Marlin's Effects

As was previously stated, the old man, Santiago, goes far out to sea to find himself the biggest and best fish in the Caribbean only to find himself, instead, rapped in a fight of life or death between himself and an enormous monster marlin. As the struggle wages on into the second and third days still without any signs of give from either the strong fish or the wise, old man, Santiago cannot help but think of the tremendous power and strength his fish must hold. It is ridiculous to expect a regular fish to possess the ability to tow a fully grown man sitting on a small fishing boat on the open seas away from the land at such a constant speed to continue gaining ground on the man for just about a full three days. These thoughts wrap around Santiago and cause a fairly powerful relationship to form with only the highest and utmost respect for the fish. He feels his body nagging at him to rest and sleep and to get a good meal, but this respect he has for such a willing combatant allows him to stow away his thoughts and keep pressing onward. The friendship that has grown between the two beings also brings with it an aspiring love to not have to kill the man's adversary. He feels as if the fish should be able to live by itself in the ocean because of its beauty and grace. The old man marvels at the thought of just a single fish pulling and tugging at the fishing line and how amazing the fish must be to keep up with as solid of a pace as this one. Also, the marlin gives Santiago the strength and will power to continue the fight because Santiago does not want to lose any battle, let alone one with a fish. As he recalls, he once was in an arm wrestling match that went on for hours and hours until finally the old man had broken the other's spirit and took down the opponent in one solid effort.