Student Question
In The Old Man and the Sea, what memories boost Santiago's confidence?
Quick answer:
Santiago boosts his confidence by recalling a youthful arm-wrestling match in Casablanca, where he earned the title "The Champion." This memory of enduring and ultimately winning a grueling contest against a strong opponent reinforces his belief in his own strength and persistence. As he battles the marlin, Santiago draws on this past experience to remind himself that patience and endurance can lead to success, encouraging him to persevere.
As he fights the marlin into the second day, Santiago has to call on all his acquired ability to stay focused and not lose strength. He recalls a game of arm-wrestling he played in his youth, when he was much stronger, which resulted in his being named "The Champion" by the people of Casablanca:
As the sun set he remembered, to give himself more confidence, the time in the tavern at Casablanca when he had played the hand game... The match had started on a Sunday morning and ended on a Monday morning.
(Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea, Google Books)
Santiago's opponent is a great athlete and strong worker in the harbor, and the odds are greatly against Santiago. The match lasts for a full day and ends when Santiago, in a burst of energy, wins the match. This memory helps to restore his confidence in his abilities, and he knows that as long as he holds out and does not try to force the marlin, he will be successful.
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