"Friendship" Quotes

The friendship between the old man and the boy is a big part of the novel. They both try to take care of each other and enjoy having a companion, and they each want the best for the other. There are a lot of quotes in The Old Man and the Sea that explain the slightly unconventional relationship between the old man and the boy:

"..."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."..." -Day One

The boy (Manolin) enjoys spending time with the old man (Santiago). The old man was the one who taught the boy to fish, and as a result the old man is kind of an important role model for the boy. Even though the old man has not been successful and revered for a very long time, the boy knows how much skill the old man has.

"The old man taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him." -Day One

Because of their common bond of fishing, the old man and they boy developed a very important relationship before the novel even started. The old man shared his skills and love of fishing with the boy, and in return the boy remained loyal to him and cared for him like he was his own father or grandfather.

The old man and the boy's friendship is based on mutual respect. They trust each other and greatly respect each other for just who they are, and that results in understanding and friendship. They find themselves lonely without the company of each other, and the old man often wishes that the boy was with him while he was out at sea battling against the marlin. The old man also first liked the boy because of his helpfulness and assistance, especially when the boy was young and the two first went fishing together.