Character of Manolin

Character of Manolin

Prepared by: Dhaval Diyora

Roll No: 05

Paper – 10 : The American Literature

M.A (English):  Sem -3

Enrollment No: 2069108420190013

 Batch:  2018-20

 Email: d.d.diyora@gmail.com

 Submitted to: Smt .S. B Gardi, Department of English, 

MK Bhavnagar University.

Topic: Character of Manolin

A companion to Santiago.

Manolin is the second human character playing the role of an assistant in the sea-drama. Though he appears only in the beginning and towards the fag end of the novel, he casts his shadow throughout the story. He is seen nowhere after saying "good luck" to his master on the morning of eighty-fifth day until the old man comes back prized with the skeleton of a giant fish, but he is remembered day in and day out by his master so long as he is far out in the sea battling all alone with the Marlin. The boy is an unfailing companion to the old man in his lean and lonely hours. His is the only human face that Santiago sees in the mornings and the evenings. When the old man is disappointed, the boy inspires confidence in him. When he is tired, he entertains him with beer and hot coffee. When he is hungry, he brings a pot of vellow rice with fish. When he sleeps, the boy sits by watching him. round the clock. When he falls sick, he nurses him round the clock. When he feels lonely, he gives him company. The boy, in fact, shares, the old man's household chores and tries to make him as much comfortable as he can by keeping everything in order in his shack. He virtually fills the vacuum of his master's life within the limits as imposed upon by his means and parents.

A tender-hearted boy.

Manolin is a simple, pure and tender-hearted boy. His heart bubbles over with the milk of human compassion. When the old man is miserable, he feels pity for him When he sees the hands of his master bleeding, he cries with pain and brings "stuff from the drug store". When he sees the old man unloading the skiff in the evening, he rushes to share his burden and make him as light as he can. When he sees his master bare-footed and in a patched shirt, he is saddened. He feels that he "must get him another shirt and a jacket for the winter and some sort of shoes and another blanket." When he finds the old fisherman without a wash, he brings for him water, soap and a good towel, and brushes him up.

A devoted disciple.

As a devoted disciple, Manolin has unflinching faith in his master. He has been with him since he was five years and he remembers everything from the time they met together. So he knows what his master is like. Though he is restrained from going shaken and he does not desert him. He is so innocent that he does not conceal the made me leave, I am a boy and I must obey him." out to the sea with Santiago, his faith is not t from his master. He tells him : "It was papa made me leave, I am a boy and I must obey him.

He has a sense of profound respect and reverence for his master. He is prepared to leave his present master and go with Santiago again. When Santiago urges him to remain with the lucky boat, he tells him:

"I would like to go. If I cannot fish with you, I would like to serve in some way.

He accepts the natural superiority of Santiago over his second master. Though Santiago is not able to catch any fish for eightyfour days, his faith in and reverence for him does not diminish. He rather encourages him saying : "But remember how you went eightyseven days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks."

His readiness to learn.

If Santiago wants to transmit his knowledge and experience to the boy as completely and fast as he can, the latter is also ready to learn it as quickly as he can.

The old man wants to take the boy far out in the sea but he cannot do it for it will hurt the feelings of Manolin's parents. He tells the boy, "If you were my boy I'd take you out and gambles. However, Manolin is prepared to go far out and help him even without deserting his second master. He says to him : 

"I'll try to get him to work far out. Then if you hook something truly big, we can come to your aid."

But this is not acceptable to the old man. When he is in the sea battling with the fish, he has a novel and grand experience of fishing, which he wants to share with the boy. But unfortunately, the boy is not there. There are certain things which can be taught only by demonstration in the height of the action. This rare moment comes on the eighty-fifth day far out in the sea, where the boy is not present. His master wishes the boy to be there several times but he is unlucky. When his master returns with a big prize, he learns what he has missed for not being in his company. He says to the old man: 

"You must get well fast for there is much that I can learn and you can teach me everything."

His child-like curiosity.

He is not only interested in fishing but also in those things which can bait a child. He loves to listen to the stories of the lions of Africa from his master. He is also interested in the baseball matches and wants to know the latest position of the teams. So he gives his master the old newspaper which he reads like fiction. He also invests money on buying lottery coupons. He says to the old man :

"Do you think we should buy a terminal of the lottery with eighty-five? Tomorrow is the eighty-fifth day."

Thus, Manolin is an excellent specimen of a faithful and devoted disciple ready to sacrifice all for knowledge and service of his the master who is, indeed, an an enlightened one.

Their human relationship.

The boy, in fact, provides warmth and sustenance to him when he needs it most. When it is credit that the old man needs, the boy miserable, the boy, being tenderhearted, feels for him. When he sees the hands of his master bleeding, he cries with pain and brings "stuff from the drug store". When the old man comes back secures it for him. When the old man is completely exhausted, the boy assists him in unloading the skiff. When he sees the old man bare-footed and in a patched shirt, he is saddened and feels that he "must get him another shirt and a jacket for the winter and some sort of shoes and another blanket. When he sees him unclean, he brings for him water, soap and good towel.

Their teacher-taught relationship.

The relationship that exists between them is really that of a disciple and a teacher. The service that the boy renders to his master is out of his love, faith and reverence for him. He holds his master in the highest esteem. "The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him." When the old man is not able to take any fish for eightyfive days, he leaves him not because he doubts his ability as a teacher but because of his parental compulsions.

He tells his master:

"It was papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must I."
The old man replies to him : "I remember, I know you did not leave me because you doubted"

Thus, the disciple-master relationship is established beyond doubt with a playing upon the words doubt and faith. The boy is ready to go with him again against the wishes of his father because his master is the best fisherman in the world. He tells him:

"There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you."

Thus, the boy is a true and devoted disciple. He has profound respect and reverence for his teacher. As a disciple, he is completely absorbed in learning the knack of fishing from his master.

Works Cited

R.N.Sinh. The old man and the sea. 1999.

Translater- Ravindra Thakor. Aparajey. Amdavad: Nirav Madrasi, 1991.