Final answer:
The passage compares Santiago to Jesus Christ, drawing parallels between Santiago's suffering and the crucifixion of Jesus to emphasize his spiritual endurance and sacrifice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage "He settled comfortably against the wood and took his suffering as it came" contains a reference that compares Santiago to Jesus Christ. This comparison draws a parallel to Christ's suffering on the cross, highlighting Santiago's endurance and suffering. It alludes to Christian imagery and suggests a spiritual aspect to Santiago's experience, paralleling the sacrificial nature of Jesus's passion and crucifixion with Santiago's own trials. Such religious references are common in literature to evoke empathy and to draw historical or thematic connections between characters and renowned figures or events in religious texts. This particularly emphasizes the character's nobility in suffering and his connection to a higher, spiritual struggle.