Answer:
D. It increases the tension of Santiago's fishing experience.
Explanation:
One of the reasons why it is significant that Santiago has travelled so far out to sea is because this makes his situation all the more dramatic. Because of this, we are able to understand Santiago's desperation over the fact that he has not been able to have a succesful experience in months. It also increases our worry when we see that Santiago's ordeal becomes more complicated as time goes by.
