Every day we make thousands of decisions without even realizing that every one will have a life-long effect on our lives. The steps you take determine where you go, what you do and who you meet. Choosing to say one cruel or manipulative thing about a person could change your image forever. Say what you want, but, as Santiago in the novella The Old Man and the Sea learned, every decision you make comes with consequences. Good or bad, they are consequences you have to live with for the rest of your life.
In Cuba, this salao fisherman has gone 84 days without catching a single fish. He sails on his own, and because of his age it is a danger he is willing to face. "Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated" (10). Even though he was old and worn, there was still a sparkle in his eyes. His determination shined greater than his age and he progressed and grew as a person. The choice of fishing alone at his age brought many challenges that were both physical and mental. The factor of not catching a fish in 84 days also played a huge role in the journey of the fisherman.
To be a great fisherman, you must give up many things that people normally take for granted. One of the most important items is the number of hours of sleep you get. As we grow from children, to young adults and beyond we begin to need more sleep because of more work, stress and more life in general. As Santiago moved farther out into sea, he was racking up on the number of hours of sleep he was getting. He grew very tired and soon became delusional. It was also very hard for him to focus. The old man kept advancing and did not give up. "A man is not made for defeat...a man can be destroyed but not defeated" (103).
Finally, Santiago's line catches the bite of a large blue marlin. He soon finds out the fish is far too big to fit on the old man's aged boat.The old man had to make another choice. Follow the fish in the water, or cut the line? Age comes back into play here, too. Can he risk being pulled out into sea? This is a rhetorical question that only the fisherman could answer. Since he had not caught a fish in such a large amount of time and doesn't want to loose the line, he follows it. This choice affects the old man's health a great deal. Along with the loss of sleep, pulling on the line cuts his hands. If he had cut the line and went home, he would not have had the cuts or the cramps he got on both of his hands.
Though sometimes he was bitter, he was never willing to give up because of these few cuts. At points, he was even apologetic for catching such a beautiful fish. "Fish, I love you and respect you very much [Santiago said]" (54) and it showed. He was very calm and was never disappointed or even resentful.
Santiago was also troubled with the fact he had to live with the decision of not going out to sea with the boy. Manolin was practically his best friend and with all the other factors he was scared he would never see him again. His determination had to be stronger than ever due to the fact that he was lonely and dismayed. The old man missed the boy very much. " 'I wish I had the boy' the old man said aloud" (45). He talked aloud about the boy, along with other things, often. His age compared to the boy's could be compared many ways; they got along so well it seemed as though they were very close in age though they were separated by many years.
The old man accepted his consequences, though. "You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you" (92). He understood that the choices that he made always effected him, not just sometimes. He also realized that the choices that the fish made changed what happened to him, too, and that he could stop the fish from making decisions for him just by switching what he did. Not once was he dishonest with himself and he kept with it no matter what.
Every choice the old man made played a role in the story. Whether it was what he said, thought about or did, they all came together to make the journey of the fisherman. Beyond the story, it shows that every single thing you do makes up your life, and none of it is meant to be forgotten. Whether it's admirable or harsh, it makes up the person you are and who you will soon become. Life is short, so live it with no regrets and, like Santiago, "dream about the lions" (81).
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