the old man and the sea

     SANTIAGO’S MEMORIES OF THE PAST AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

Q. Discuss the importance of the past memories of Santiago.

Answer: Yeats, once wrote: “There is for every man someone scene, someone adventure, someone picture that is the image of his secret life.”

Yeats is right because Santiago had also such memories. First, the old man remembered his hand game competition with a hero whom he defeated after a hard struggle of 24 hours. By recalling this incident, Santiago felt a new vigour in his old body and was ready to fight with a new zeal and fervour.

Secondly, the old man also recollected his strength by remembering his favourite baseball player, Di Maggio. Santiago visualized Di Maggio and in this way got strength and confidence.

Thirdly, the dreams of the lions on the beach were also a source of strength, vigour and courage. Santiago also remembered the boy, Manolin. During his journey, the old man claimed: “The boy keeps me alive.”

It is very obvious that these memories gave Santiago a new energy with which he was ready to face the ordeals of crowning adventure.                              (Words: 168)