The Old Man and the Sea

Explain about the fish circling and the work Santiago had to perform

Explain about the fish circling and the work Santiago had to perform

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Once the marlin begins to circle, the endgame begins. He cannot see the marlin but he can hear him leaping out of the water. Santiago cleans crushed dolphin meat off his face because he is afraid it will nauseate him and, vomiting, he will lose the strength he needs to fight the marlin.

At sunrise, the marlin begins a large circle. Santiago holds the line strongly, pulling it in slowly as the marlin goes round. As Santiago says, "the strain will shorten his circle each time. Perhaps in an hour I will see him. Now I must convince him and then I must kill him" (87). Santiago feels faint and worries that he will fail after this long fight. But he prays to God that he will say prayers later if only he can have the strength to defeat the fish.

Santiago continues pulling him in until the marlin catches the wire lead of the line with his spear and regains some of the line. Eventually, the marlin clears the lead and Santiago pulls back the line he lost. At the third turn, Santiago sees the fish and is amazed by its size. He readies the harpoon and pulls the line in more.

Source(s)

http://www.gradesaver.com/the-old-man-and-the-sea/study-guide/summary-pages-73-90