Santiago's Obstacles by Tessa H.

In our world today many people struggle with different obstacles to continue to motivate them selves and continue living. From recently reading the Old Man and the Sea, throughout the whole book, the main character Santiago has to go through many obstacles’ that affect his fishing trip. This includes both mental and physical battles. To me the struggles that stood out most were his lack of supplies, being alone, and his bad luck.

Santiago set sail for the big fishing trip by himself with small items and the skiff. In his mind he was not prepared for those 4 days was going to be on the small boat. He had only brought along one water bottle with him. “For an hour now the old man had been seeing back spots before his eyes… he had felt faint and dizzy and that worried him”(87). The old man had become very weak and dehydrated from his lack of water for 4 days. Along with having a lack of water the old man had brought no food on his journey. The old man had become so hungry, after the first day he finally picked up his gaff, and began to hunt for tuna. He caught some, but they didn’t last long. He was still hungry. Dolphins sounded his boat, and tempted the old man to gaff them as well. Inside of the dolphin the old man found jumping fish to snack on, because he didn’t like the taste of dolphins.

Beside the fact that the old man had no supplies, he was very alone as well. Santiago was very upset with the decision that the boy had made, but had finally faced the facts that he was going to be going on the fishing trip alone. While out on the boat, the old man begins talking to himself. He doesn’t even notice it at first; aloud he said “I wish the boy were here… I wish I had that boy” (50-51). He keeps saying it because he knows it will be harder for him to catch the marlin without a young persons hand by his side. He also began to talk to fish, birds and eventually the marlin because of his loneliness.

As I stated before, Santiago had been out for 84 days trying to catch a Marlin. Everyone thought that he had bad luck or was “cursed”. “…after forty days without a fish the boys parents had told him that the old man was not definitely and finally salao, which is the world form of unlucky”..(1) He even started to believe it him self. Santiago had never caught a good fish, unless it was on the 85^th day. That is why he wasn’t a threat to other boats. Many other fisher men had joked around, saying he wont ever catch anything either.

Over all Santiago had over come many obstacles and challenges, whether it was his lack of supplies, his lonesomeness, or his bad luck. Santiago always got through what ever challenge that was thrown at him. By having these obstacles, it made Santiago more determined, and dedicated to catch the marlin. He also proved to himself he can do anything you can put him mind to.