trade wind

The trade wind, called the brisa by Santiago, is a steady, easterly wind that blows across the Gulf Stream and plays a crucial role in the old man's journey. It is not merely a meteorological detail but a constant companion, a helper, and a force that shapes the narrative's physical and emotional landscape. Santiago relies on the trade wind to sail home after his epic battle with the marlin, and its presence or absence marks the passage of time and the shifting conditions of his struggle.

Nature and Function of the Trade Wind

The trade wind is a reliable, fair-weather wind that the old man knows intimately. He notes that the clouds are "building up now for the trade wind" , indicating his ability to read the sky and anticipate its arrival. When the wind rises, it brings a "fair-weather breeze" that he needs to get home . Santiago uses the trade wind to sail south-west after lashing the marlin to his skiff, steering by the feel of the wind and the draw of the sail . He also recognizes that the wind, when it backs into the north-east, will not fall off , demonstrating his deep understanding of its behavior. The trade wind is a practical ally, providing the motive power that his exhausted body cannot.

The Trade Wind as a Symbol of Endurance and Connection

Beyond its practical function, the trade wind embodies the enduring, cyclical forces of nature that Santiago respects and depends upon. He thinks of the wind as a friend, saying, "The wind is our friend, anyway" , though he immediately qualifies this with "sometimes," acknowledging the sea's dual nature. The wind is part of the larger system of the ocean that includes both friends and enemies. Santiago's ability to harness the trade wind reflects his own endurance; he is not fighting against nature but working with it, using its power to complete his journey. The wind also connects him to the broader world, as it carries the smell of the shark factory from the cove and, later, helps him sail toward the glow of Havana .

The Trade Wind and the Passage of Time

The trade wind marks the rhythm of Santiago's ordeal. He notes that the breeze is rising gently as the sun grows hot , and later, as the afternoon wears on, he observes that "the trade wind is rising" . The wind's steady presence contrasts with the violent, episodic attacks of the sharks. After the final shark attack, Santiago sails lightly, with no thoughts or feelings, and the wind carries him home . The trade wind, like the sea itself, is indifferent to his suffering but provides the means for his return. It is a constant in a world of change, a force that Santiago can trust even when his own strength fails.

The Trade Wind in Santiago's Past and Dreams

Santiago's relationship with the trade wind is rooted in his lifelong experience as a fisherman. He recalls sailing before the mast on a square-rigged ship that ran to Africa , and in his dreams, he smells the land breeze that brings the smell of Africa . These memories link the trade wind to his youth and to the broader world of the sea. The wind is also present in his waking thoughts about baseball; he imagines that the great DiMaggio would stay with a fish as long as he will, and he thinks of the bone spur that might hurt DiMaggio . The trade wind, like baseball, is a thread connecting Santiago to a larger human community and to his own past.

The Trade Wind and the Ending

In the final scene, the east wind blows a heavy, steady sea outside the harbor entrance as a party of tourists mistakes the marlin's skeleton for a shark . The trade wind, which had been Santiago's helper, now blows indifferently over the ruined fish. The skeleton, stripped of its flesh, is "just garbage waiting to go out with the tide" . The wind that once filled his sail now blows over the remains of his triumph, underscoring the novel's theme of transience and the gap between Santiago's private heroism and the public's incomprehension. Yet the wind also carries the old man's dream of the lions, a vision of youth and vitality that endures beyond defeat.