dabin's+author+criticism+exercise

page 27 "Have another coffee. We have credit here." - This is what the young boy tells the old man. The old man does not have enough money to even get a cup of coffee for himself. This shows the unbalanced distribution of wealth within the capitalistic society. - "Credit" is the basis of capitalism: credit card, checks (and even money itself is a form of "credit"). Yet, unfortunately the credit is not promised for everyone, thus creating another inequality. Ones with a lot of money in the first place gets more credit, while ones with no money thus in desperate need for credit cannot get it.

page 52 "But he cannot pull this skiff forever, no matter how great he is." - This quote implies the theme of limitation. - No matter how creative, reliable, and perfect the capitalism appears to be, that one system cannot lead the economy forever.

page 79 "Now let me get through the eating of this dolphin and get some rest and a little sleep." - The fish, in this case represents capitalism. It drives the old man so busy: it forces the old man to work until he exhausts himself. And that is how capitalism enslaves people. People want more earning/money, sacrificing their time to "eat" or "sleep".

page 127 (last page) "I didn't know sharks had such handsome, beautifully formed tails." - The old man had fought and returned together with a shark, without knowing that it's a shark. - The great fish represents capitalism; yet, in the end, we can see that the fish is not just a great fish. It is a shark that can bite off and kill human beings (which capitalism is also capable of doing).