How does Santiago compare himself to a turtle?
Santiago also says he has a heart like the turtle’s, that will “beat for hours after he has been cut up and butchered.” Both the turtle and Santiago symbolize what is hard and impenetrable on the outside but pulses beneath the surface with hidden, stubborn life (hearts that won’t stop beating).
How is the old man like a turtle?
Santiago’s hands are rough and cut by the sea; like the turtles he is steady and persistent in going after his catch. And, like the turtles, his heart must sometimes beat “outside” his body when he fails to catch anything, or when others taunt him.
What does Santiago compare to the sea?
What does Santiago compare the sea to? He compares the sea to la mar (feminine). The fishermen compare the sea to el mar(masculine).
What does Santiago admire about turtles?
Likewise, he admires the green turtles and hawk-bills for their “elegance and speed and their great value.” It seems that Santiago also admires the turtles because they can live to a ripe old age. As an old man himself, they probably give him comfort that a fellow creature can live a long life and still be effective.
Why does Santiago hope the marlin will jump?
Santiago hopes that the fish will jump, because its air sacs would fill and prevent the fish from going too deep into the water, which would make it easier to pull out. He pledges his love and respect to the fish, but he nevertheless promises that he will kill his opponent before the day ends.
Does Santiago eat the Marlin?
When Santiago eats the marlin, he and the fish become one, and the marlin lives on through Santiago. This recalls the Eucharist, in which Christ asks his followers to symbolically eat his flesh and drink his blood. Two hours later, two shovel-nosed sharks approach.
How many sharks does Santiago kill?
Santiago berates himself for having gone out too far. He kills a great mako shark with his harpoon but loses the weapon. He makes a spear by strapping his knife to the end of an oar. He kills three more sharks before the blade of the knife snaps, and he clubs two more sharks into submission.
What second fish did the old man catch and what will he do with it?
What second fish did the old man catch, and what will he do with it? He caught a dolphin and saved it to eat later. Santiago tries to justify killing the big fish by thinking of how many people he will feed.