Day 3 Summary
As the sun rises, Santiago wishes the fish would surface, but he is still moving and strong. Perhaps he should put some pressure on the line so the fish will jump and fill his air sacks so he cannot go deep to die. Though he loves the fish as his brother, he vows to kill him. A small bird comes to visit. Then the fish jerks the old man to the bottom of the boat again; only because he is braced does the old man keep from losing the line. He is tired and sore, but he is still strong. Both man and fish are feeling the strain, and the rope has cut Santiago’s hand. It is only a surface wound, but he trails his hand in the water to stay the flow of blood. The fish has slowed his pace. Santiago stands to stretch and brace himself once again.
The old man knows he must eat the tuna to maintain his strength, though he does not like raw fish. He maneuvers to cut the fish into strips, though his left hand is cramped. He tells himself he must eat, and it is not as bad as he had feared. He knows he must eat it all to keep his strength, though his hand is still cramped. He hopes the sun and the tuna will give it the strength to uncurl on its own; if it does not, he will make it work to kill the great fish. He wishes again that the boy were here.
There is a slight change in the angle of the line, and the old man knows the fish is coming to the surface. If he does that, he knows he can kill it:
He came out unendingly and water poured from his sides. He was bright in the sun and his head and back were dark purple and in the sun the stripes on his side showed wide and a light lavender. His sword was as long as a baseball bat and tapered like a rapier and he rose full length from the water.
Santiago sees that the fish is two feet longer than his boat is, and he reminds himself he must not let the fish know he has the greater strength and power. The fish is a worthy opponent but he must never know it. Although he has seen other large fish and has caught two over a thousand pounds, this is the biggest he has ever seen or heard of—and he had never brought in a large one by himself. His hand is still cramped, but he is able to bring in some line, and now he waits and wishes the boy were here. Santiago promises to say Hail Marys and make a pilgrimage to the Virgin of Cobre if he catches the fish. Then he prays.
This is going to be a long ordeal, and Santiago knows he must catch another fish for sustenance. He hopes for another tuna because dolphin is not pleasant to eat raw. In the heat of the day the fish has slowed but is still moving steadily north and east. Santiago’s hand is no longer cramped, and he plans to show the boy he can still catch a great fish. He thinks of the great DiMaggio, playing even with a bone spur, and he is inspired. He hopes the sharks will not come.
As the sun goes down, Santiago recalls his great arm-wrestling match with the strongest man on the docks. It took from Sunday morning to Monday morning, and the advantage changed from one to the other through the ordeal. Santiago finally finished the match and was known as the Champion. His right hand was strong, though his left hand has always been a traitor to him.
The dolphin that took the small bait now jumps and thrashes, and Santiago gathers the rope until the fish is at the side of the boat. Santiago drags him in and rebaits the hook with another sardine. He lashes the oars as a drag behind the boat as he prepares for another night with the great marlin. Several hours later, the old man wishes he could lash the rope to the boat but knows he cannot afford to let the fish break the line. He tells himself he must sleep to keep his strength. First, he eats the unpleasant dolphin. In the dolphin are two flying fish, firm and edible. The weather is good, but only his right hand is strong. He curls himself into the bottom of the boat with his right hand on the line. He sleeps and again dreams of the lions.
He wakes as the fish jumps and the rope rushes through his hands. Santiago plans to make the fish pay for the line he is taking and the cuts on his hands. The fish should tire more quickly with more line to pull. Santiago wishes the boy were here to wet the coils of rope. The fish jumps again and again; then he begins to circle, and the hard work begins. The man eats one of the flying fish to maintain his strength. He is as ready as he can be for sunrise and what is ahead of him.
Expert Q&A
In "The Old Man and the Sea", what mistake does Santiago believe led to his defeat?
Santiago believes his defeat stems from going out too far in his quest to catch a fish. Driven by pride and the desire to end his streak of failures, he ventures beyond his usual fishing grounds and hooks a massive marlin, which drags him even farther from shore. Although he eventually catches the fish, it is too late to prevent sharks from devouring it. Santiago's reflection highlights the theme of pride leading to downfall.
What techniques does Santiago use to catch the marlin? Are these techniques still used?
Santiago uses the hook and harpoon technique to catch the marlin, involving baiting a hook with sardines and tuna to lure the fish. Once the marlin takes the bait and is hooked, Santiago uses a harpoon to kill it after it tires. This method is still used today, though with variations like using live bait. The technique involves causing internal injuries to eventually subdue the fish, allowing it to be hoisted from the water.
Summarize Santiago's plan for harpooning the fish in The Old Man and the Sea.
Santiago plans to harpoon the marlin by patiently waiting for it to circle close to his boat. Understanding the fish's strength, he aims to strike its heart rather than the head. Despite the marlin's size and strength, Santiago uses all his remaining energy and pride to drive the harpoon into the fish's side. After a final protest, the marlin succumbs, floating belly-up, marking the end of Santiago's arduous battle.
How does the sentence "Then the fish came alive, with his death in him..." from The Old Man and the Sea represent a contradiction?
The sentence "Then the fish came alive, with his death in him..." from The Old Man and the Sea represents a contradiction by illustrating the fish's vitality despite its impending death caused by the harpoon wound. This paradox highlights the fish's struggle against inevitable death, similar to a terminal illness in humans. The phrase underlines the fish's strength and nobility while fulfilling Santiago's promise to kill it by day's end.
On page 91 of The Old Man and the Sea, is Santiago clear-headed?
On page 91, Santiago remains clear-headed, despite his physical challenges. Alone at sea, he stays alert by talking to himself and philosophizing about nature. As the marlin leaps, Santiago's mind is sharp, strategizing on how to handle the fish. He acknowledges his fatigue and injuries but remains focused, using his experience to manage his disadvantages. Even when feeling light-headed, he prioritizes maintaining strength over succumbing to nausea.
How does Santiago create a new weapon in The Old Man and the Sea?
Santiago creates a new weapon by tying his knife to the boat's oar after losing his harpoon. However, the knife blade breaks while fighting a shovel-nosed shark, leaving him without a bladed weapon for the remainder of his journey. Despite this setback, Santiago valiantly attempts to fend off the sharks attacking his marlin by also using the oar as a club, highlighting his determination and the overwhelming odds he faces.
Why is the simile "he came like a pig to the trough" effective in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea?
How did Santiago lose his weapon in The Old Man and the Sea?
Santiago loses his harpoon and his knife while fighting off the many sharks that are trying to eat his giant marlin.
The climax and peak tension in The Old Man and the Sea
The climax and peak tension in The Old Man and the Sea occur when Santiago finally catches the marlin but faces relentless attacks from sharks. This moment encapsulates the struggle between man and nature, highlighting Santiago's determination and the inevitability of loss despite his efforts.
In The Old Man and the Sea, where must Santiago aim his harpoon at the fish?
In "The Old Man and the Sea," Santiago must aim his harpoon at the marlin's heart to kill it. He targets a spot just behind the great chest fin. Santiago acknowledges the majesty of the fish and feels justified in killing it. Although aiming for the heart results in more bleeding, attracting sharks that consume the marlin, Santiago ultimately survives the ordeal, exemplifying the theme of being "defeated, but not destroyed."
Santiago's moment of despair in The Old Man and the Sea
Santiago's moment of despair in The Old Man and the Sea occurs when he realizes that despite his struggle and the marlin's capture, sharks have devoured his prize. This moment highlights his deep sense of loss and defeat, underscoring the novel's themes of endurance and the often-pyrrhic nature of human endeavors.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
