| Quote #4 I wonder what he made that lurch for, he thought. The wire must have slipped on the great hill of his back. Certainly his back cannot feel as badly as mine does. But he cannot pull this skiff forever, no matter how great he is. Now everything is cleared away that might make trouble and I have a big reserve of line; all that a man can ask. (2.104) |
The old man compares his pain to the pain of the fish; this is what allows him to see brotherhood between them.
| Quote #5 It encouraged him to talk because his back had stiffened in the night and it hurt truly now. (3.17) |
The old man’s pain is heightened by his isolation; therefore, when he wishes for the boy; it is partly as a distraction from his discomfort.
| Quote #6 The bird had flown up when the line jerked and the old man had not even seen him go. He felt the line carefully with his right hand and noticed his hand was bleeding. |
The old man compares his pain to the pain of the fish; this is what allows him to see brotherhood between them.