One example that is a little more obvious than others is the parents of the boy and their opinion of Santiago. They think he is bad luck and the boy should stay very far away from him. This shows a time in history, that really can relate to any time period in my opinion, where people valued the success of a person way more than the influence they had on someone. Although Santiago was a very wise old man who had a lot of knowledge to offer the boy, the parents would prefer someone who had immediate success. However, it is not an unusual happening to see in any time period.
Another example of a relationship is between teacher and student. The old man and the boy had this relationship because the old man was trying to teach the boy valuable lessons on fishing and other skills because he cared for him. This relationship almost reached father-son type of thing. They cared for each other very much. The reader can tell because of the boys insisting to buy the old man a beer and even a meal. The reader can also see it through the old man's constant wishing the boy was fishing on his boat with him. A last time the reader can notice the bond between them is when the boy takes care of the old man when he returns from his long and tiring journey. The boy even gets emotional at this time. This reflects history in a small way. It shows that two people can care about each other not because they are related through blood, but related through experiences. This can relate to any time period, but the more specific way it relates to this one is the way they both have to work so hard and work with each other.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.
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