Ernest Hemingway makes his point quickly. From the first page, the old man becomes the focal point of the story and is depicted as, well, very old and worn out, viejo. Yet, he is still tough and enthusiastic. He is also very unlucky or salao and hasn't caught a fish in eighty-four days . Hemingway contrasts the old man on the first page with a boy as well. The boy "had gone in another boat which caught three good fish," while still seeing "the old man come in each day with his skiff empty." It already seems like the old man's fishing days are coming to a close. Although the sail of the old man's skiff is "patched with flour sacks and looked like the flag of permanent defeat," he still states he has faith that he will soon catch a big fish. When he, who we find out is named Santiago, goes to the Terrace with the boy, "other fisherman looked at him and were sad." Santiago does not care at all though. He says to the boy, ...