"The Old Man and the Sea," by Ernest Hemingway is a novel settle in Cuba, and is centered on an old fisherman, Santiago, who hasn't caught a single fish in eighty four days. He spends his days in the sea along with a boy named Manolin who helps and cares for the old man. Santiago wants to break his bad luck so on the eighty fifth day he goes further towards the sea to catch the big fish. Santiago does not give up on his goals and does not accept defeat no matter what he faces, with the help of friendship, strength and skill, and luck.
The boy's friendship made Santiago not feel lonely. Also when the boy would help Santiago with his fishing gear everyday probably made Santiago feel confident in catching the fish because he knew finally there was someone there to support him and keep him company which made the boy get to know Santiago more than anyone else. "Santiago," the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from where the skiff was hauled up. "I could go with you again we've made some money." Only the boy, not the narrator, refers to the old man by name. This shows that the boy knows him in a way that few do. That's why the boy would care and help Santiago because he knew catching the big fish was important to Santiago. Although friendship or having someone's support by your side is important while in accomplishing your goals it also takes strength and skill.
Throughout the story Santiago faces huge obstacles but with strength and skill he did not give up and kept going. Although Santiago's appearance makes it seem like he doesn't have that strength he shows throughout the book but in reality he really does. "The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords.