Manolin from The Old Man and the Sea

Manolin, although not the main character of "The Old Man and the Sea", still serves an important role in this book. Manolin is a young boy who is Santiago's apprentice in the story. It says in the book that Santiago first took Manolin out fishing when he was just five years old and they had been together ever since. After Santiago's bad luck and streak of eighty-four days without a single catch, Manolin's parents refused to let Manolin continue fishing with him. Nevertheless, Manolin disobeys his parents to stay loyal to Santiago. Santiago is a mentor to Manolin and his teachings will live on in Manolin even after he dies. Some characteristics I would use to describe Manolin would be youthful, caring, loving, and loyal. Manolin is very youthful and is a great apprentice for Santiago. Santiago says aloud multiple times how he wishes the boy was with him to reel in the great marlin. Being youthful, Manolin will be able to learn a lot from Santiago before he passes away and then be able to keep Santiago alive through his teachings that will live on through him. Manolin is very caring and comes every morning to Santiago's shack and always does whatever he can to help him. He is loving as well. Not only does Manolin visit him daily, he also makes sure he always has a blanket and helps keep him fed as well. While reading, their relationship reminded me of a father and a son in the way they would talk about baseball together and really cared for one another. Lastly, Manolin is loyal. Manolin is there for Santiago through everything. He was there for him even in his streak of bad luck and there for him waiting for him to get home. Manolin was so devoted and as the reader, I really appreciated his character. Like I said, Manolin waited five days for Santiago's return. When Manolin found him in his shack in the morning, he cried. "He went out very quietly to bring some coffee and all the way down the road he was crying" (Hemingway, 122). After crying, he immediately went to tend for him, bringing him coffee, a clean shirt, food, and the newspaper. Throughout the entire journey, Manolin had never left his mentor. 

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.