11.18

The Old Man and the Sea Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, endured 84 days without catching any fish. His young apprentice Manolin was forced by his parents to leave him but still cared for Santiago with food and help daily. On the 85th day, Santiago sailed far into the Gulf Stream and hooked a giant marlin. He struggled with the fish for three days, suffering exhaustion, hand cramps and pain, yet never gave up. Finally, he killed the marlin and tied it to his boat. But the marlin’s blood attracted sharks on the way back. Santiago fought fiercely with sharks using harpoons, oars and broken tillers, but the marlin was eaten up completely. When he returned to the harbor, only a huge skeleton remained. Manolin was relieved to see him alive, and the villagers were shocked by the skeleton, witnessing the old man’s unyielding spirit.