The Old Man and the Sea: Thoughts - Part V

Why do neither the marlin or the old man give up during the three-day struggle? Well, Santiago is fighting for his pride. He knows how important it will be if he is able to bring in the monster at the end of his line. He would feel so proud of himself if he can reel it in, and he also knows how amazed Manolin would be. Since Manolin is not out on the water with the old man, he has no idea what to expect when Santiago comes back to the harbor after so long. He does not know how well Santiago will feel and if he will want to talk. For all he knows, Santiago could have died out on the open ocean in the first day. Putting myself in Manolin's shoes, I think I would have given up on my dear friend probably by the end of the second day. It was amazing that a young boy, especially the young boy's father, would wait for an old man who has been absent for the last four days. Any normal teenager, or a younger child, - I am still not entirely sure how old Manolin is because for all I know, he could really be around ten years old - does not wait for anyone. Also, the Marlin does not give up because it is a fish. Fish, as for as our research has told us thus far, cannot talk or think freely. The marlin's main goal is to get away from Santiago because when he catches it, the old man is going to kill the graceful fish. Obviously, the marlin does not want to die, so it swims and swims until it tires itself out. Then, reluctantly, the marlin finally gives in to the tremendous pressure the old man is giving it to break, and it swims to the surface. I feel slighty sorry for the fish because it just put up such a fight with the man. It pulled the boat over miles and miles, and what does it get? It gets torn apart by lousy sharks who come by for a quick and easy meal. It is stripped of its dignity with the meat. How shameful.