The Memory of the Hand Game

Santiago recalls his victory in an arm-wrestling match in Casablanca, a touchstone of his physical prowess and will.

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The Champion's Memory

The Champion's Memory A Flashback to Youth Santiago remembers the hand game he played in a tavern in Casablanca. He was called Santiago El Campeon. He pitted himself against the strongest man on the docks, a great negro from Cienfuegos. The match lasted a day and a night. The Victory They changed referees every four hours. Blood came from under their fingernails. The bettors wanted a draw, but Santiago unleashed his final effort and forced the negro's hand to the table. He won the title of The Champion. This memory reminds him that he has overcome great odds before. It gives him confidence that he can defeat the fish.

The Will to Win

The Will to Win Applying the Lesson Santiago thinks of the hand game as he pulls on the line. He knows that willpower can overcome physical weakness. He had beaten the negro because he wanted to win more. Now, he wants to kill the fish more than the fish wants to live. The Left Hand's Betrayal He remembers that his left hand always failed him in practice matches. It cramps now, but he refuses to let it defeat him. He talks to it, commands it to open. He will not be a traitor to himself. This memory strengthens his resolve to endure the pain.

The Legacy of the Match

The Legacy of the Match A Quiet Pride Santiago does not mention the hand game to Manolin. It is a private memory. But it defines his sense of self. He knows he can beat anyone if he wants to badly enough. This is the same pride that drove him to go far out. The Price of Pride Yet pride also led him to hook the fish that destroyed him. The hand game was a victory; the sharks were a defeat. But he is not beaten. The memory of the match reminds him that he is still Santiago El Campeon, even if only in his own mind. This thread reinforces the theme of pride and humility.

during the second day at sea, after the cramp

during the third day, as the fish circles

after the return, in the shack