The Relation between the Old Man and Manolin

The Relation between the Old Man and Manolin
We meet the boy Manolin on the very first page of the novel when we are told that “in the first forty days a boy had been with him”, (that is, with Santiago).After forty days without a fish , the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely unlucky ,and the boy had gone under their orders with another fisherman who had caught three good fish in the first week .It mad the boy sad to see the Old Man come back each day with his skiff empty, he always went to the seashore to help the old man. In other words, the boy has been serving as a kind of companion or assistant to Santiago, he is devoted to him .It is not only a disciple –teacher relationship ,but a son –father relationship .The boy brings food and baits for the old man. The boy became an apprentice to the old manta the age of five years and once the boy was nearly killed when a particularly violent fish almost smashed the Old Man’s boat. The boy remembers the episode and says “I remember everything from when we first went together.
The boy has a great admiration for Santiago’s qualities as a fisherman .Indeed, the boy’s attitude towards the Old Man is one of hero worship. He thinks Santiago to be “the best fisherman”. The boy feels quite solicitous a boat the old man’s welfare and attends to his physical needs.We are made aware of this in the every opining pages of the novel. For instance ,”keep warm, Old man”the boy says, “remember we are in September”. presently , the boy again says ,”keep the blanket around you”……etc.