Quote 136
"Stay at my house if you like, bird," he said. "I am sorry I cannot hoist the sail and take you in with the small breeze that is rising. But I am with a friend."
Just then the fish gave a sudden lurch that pulled the old man down onto the bow and would have pulled him overboard if he had not braced himself and given some line. (3.18, 3.19)
The old man’s statement that the fish is his friend is juxtaposed with their competition.
Quote 137
I wish I could feed the fish, he thought. He is my brother. But I must kill him and keep strong to do it. Slowly and conscientiously he ate all of the wedge-shaped strips of fish. (3.43)
The old man prioritizes his role as a fisherman over his feelings of brotherhood for the fish.
Quote 138
It will uncramp though, he thought. Surely it will uncramp to help my right hand. There are three things that are brothers: the fish and my two hands. It must uncramp. It is unworthy of it to be cramped. The fish had slowed again and was going at his usual pace. (3.63)
The old man is conflicted over the feelings he has for his hand, just as he is towards the fish.