The Old Man's relationship with the sea

Then he refers to the small birds in general. The Old Man is pleased to have the company of the little birds. He seems to understand the bird’s difficult life. He was sorry for the birds, especially they always flying and cant find anything to eat, looking everywhere.

“Why did they make birds so dedicate and fine as those sea swallows when the ocean can be so cruel?” These goes on about the sea that birds fly, dipping and hunting, with their small voices are made too delicately for the sea. On page 40 the small bird goes towards the skiff, the old man could see that he was very tired.  The old man encouraged the bird and care for him

“Take a good rest at my house if you like” and

“I am sorry I cannot hoist the sail but I am with a friend” this shows how much he respects the bird and close relationship with them.

Then the next sea creature is the jelly fish. The old man calls them Portuguese man-of-war “Agua mala” (‘water evil’) and “whore”. Although they look beautiful he knows what is like to be stung by them which in this way they are “false” like prostitutes. The man loves to see them being eaten by the turtles and likes to pop them by standing on them.

Finally the old man talks about the sharks. He calls the first shark “Dentuso” (‘teeth’) and thinks of it as cruel, and able, strong and intelligent. (On page 82 he also calls it “noble and beautiful”) when the other sharks attack the marlin, the old man feels as if he himself has been hit and he loses his strength with every mouthful the sharks take.