Q: Discuss Di Maggio as a great source of inspiration for the old man ?

Q:  Discuss Di Maggio as a great source of inspiration for the old man ?

 Ans: DiMaggio was a baseball player. Santiago loved baseball. DiMaggio was the favourite player of the old man. DiMaggio has a special significance in the novel. He is the source of courage for Santiago. During the course of his struggle to catch the big Marlin, he is alone, tired, injured, hungry and sleepless. He begins to think of the league matches of baseball.

 But he does not know the result of these matches as he is far out In the sea. Santiago has the confidence about the potentialities of DiMaggio. To him, DiMaggio does all things, concerning the game of baseball, in perfect manner, even though he has pain of bone spur in his heal.

Santiago wonders what a bone spur is that if it is; as painful as the spur of a fighting cock. In his battle with Marlin and struggle against the sharks, he suffers a considerable pain and fatigue. He feels that DiMaggio has a superior capacity for enduring because DiMaggio is strong and young but youth and strength are qualities which Santiago lacks and needs especially now.

 Santiago gains strength from the idea of DiMaggio’s performing with the grace of a champion despite the pressure of his affliction. Santiago identify himself with JOe DiMaggio because he was as determine as Santiago. Like the bone spur of DiMaggio, Santiago has a frailty in his personality. He is weak and old. But like Joe DiMaggio, he is a man with strong determination.