Old Man and the Sea - Manolin

Manolin is the old man faithful friend. Manolin sticks with Santiago through thick and thin. Always willing to be at his side even as Santiago is going through nearly three whole months of not catching a single fish. Just a young boy Manolin is not only friend with Santiago but also views him in a sort of fatherly or grandfatherly way. Caring for Santiago when he needs it with tender love and care. Manolin is not allowed to fish with the old man during the story due to the oldmans terribly long dry streak of no fish. Manolin's parent need the extra income the boy provides for the family and therefore require Manolin to to work for another fisherman, one who is actually catching fish. This make Manolin terribly sad as he loves the old man and working with him. Still even though they are separated Manolin still cooks the old man food at night and chats with Santiago after the fishing has been done. Going as far as to give the old man some bait he had caught so Santiago may have better luck at catching some fish finally. Manolin seems to be the only thing the old man has left resembling family. The only person in the whole wide world that stills cares about the old mans health and worries about what might happen to the old man. after the old man comes back to shore with the fish carcass that had been eaten by the sharks Manolin cares for nothing but Santiago's health, laying him down and fetching him some food and drink so that Santiago may replenish his health. I believe Manolin represents family in the book and how he cares so lovingly for Santiago is only further proof of the fact. Family is the only thing we can ever really count on, the only people in the whole world who will love you unconditionally, and not just blood family, family can mean many different things in many different ways